LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 22: Action during the Netball Quad Series Vitality Netball International match between England and Australia at The Copper Box Arena on January 22, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images)
Eboni Usoro-Brown can’t wait to play on home soil for the first time since winning gold at the Commonwealth Games.
The three-match Vitality Netball International Series against Uganda gets underway on Tuesday 27th November and the Vitality Roses are set to receive a phenomenal reception as they step out on court.
And the defender is determined that the team will put out three good performances to match the celebratory homecoming occasion.
Usoro-Brown said: “I’m really looking forward to it!
“I think it definitely is a homecoming for the Vitality Roses.
“It’s been a while since we’ve played in front of our home crowd so I’m really looking forward to seeing everyone there – our red army – and actually getting three good results hopefully against the Ugandan She Cranes.”
The Vitality Roses beat Uganda 55-49 back in April so are well aware of the She Cranes’ strengths and key players, with one name immediately springing to mind for Usoro-Brown.
She said: “Peace Proscovia – they’ve definitely got a target in the back at goal shooter.
“She’s been a formidable shooter not only in the Vitality Netball Superleague and has obviously been recognised to go out to the Suncorp Super Netball for next year.
“She’s very, very, accurate, very mobile in the back and they do look to her quite often when they’re coming through the court in attack.
“We’re going to have to make sure we step up nice and early and put a lot of defensive pressure on, especially their attacking end.”
Usoro-Brown, who has won 90 caps to date, is the most experienced defender selected in the Vitality Roses’ squad.
She’ll be working with Layla Guscoth (21 caps), Jodie Gibson (23 caps) and Razia Quashie (3 caps), who made her debut during the Jamaica series.
Usoro-Brown said: “Raz came on in Jamaica and had an absolute stormer.
“She should take a lot of confidence from her performance in that series.
“She’s a young and exciting athlete and I think that with Layla coming in, Jodie and myself with a little bit of experience, hopefully we’re going to be a force to be reckoned with.
“Again, it’s just looking at doing our own jobs first but also building those connections and relationships with each other and hopefully contributing to the team effort.”
Tickets for the Vitality Netball International Series are available here.
If you can’t make it to one of the matches, watch the action live on Sky Sports Mix or listen on BBC Radio 5 Live.
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