Netball Super League | Surrey Storm make landmark Peace Proscovia signing

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 07: Peace Proscovia of Lightning in action during the Vitality Netball Superleague Grand Final between Loughborough Lightning and Wasps at Copper Box Arena on July 7, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images)

Surrey Storm have announced the signing of Ugandan icon Peace Proscovia for the 2022 Vitality Netball Superleague (VNSL) campaign.

The 31-year-old returns to the VNSL for the first time since the 2018 season when she was a driving force for Loughborough Lightning.

First arriving in the UK in 2015, Proscovia went onto become of one of the most influential players in the division during her four-season stint in the Midlands.

The shooter finished third and second in the Gilbert Top Scorer leaderboard in her first two seasons before going onto claim top spot in both 2017 and 2018 when she reached two Grand Finals.

The year of 2017 proved to be a bumper one of the Ugandan who won both Vitality Player of the Season and Players’ Player of the Season accolades at the VNSL Awards that year as well as finishing in the All Star VII, a feat she also achieved in 2018.

Her 897 goals in 2017 – a total which has yet to be beaten since her departure to Australia – helped her two the first of two consecutive Grand Finals which Lightning lost to Wasps on both occasions.

“I feel blessed to be given this opportunity,” said Proscovia. “I never thought that I could be offered a contract in England again but had faith that somehow one day I will get back.

“I have always admired Mikki [Austin]’s style of leadership and exited to be coached by her. I can’t wait to get back to England.”

Proscovia is a born leader and has captained the Ugandan National team since 2013, becoming a female sports advocate for the nation.

The shooter has played on some of the biggest stages including the 2015 and 2019 editions of the Vitality Netball World Cup, 2018 Commonwealth games and a winner of the 2017 African Netball Championship.

Surrey Stoem Head Coach Mikki Austin added: “We are thrilled to welcome Peace Proscovia to Surrey Storm.

“She is a class athlete who brings a wealth of skill, experience and accuracy to our squad, her achievements at Loughborough lightning and Sunshine Coast lightning has made her one the world best goal shooters. She is also an incredible human being who will be such value added to our team environment.”

Proscovia has spent the last three seasons in Australia playing with Sunshine Coast Lightening in the Suncorp Super Netball league.

“I belief that I learnt a-lot in Australia both on and off court which was a great experience that am grateful for,” she said.

“I will bring my extensive experience playing against some of the best defenders in the world under pressure . I will also bring my accuracy and dominance under the post and share my knowledge with the upcoming Surrey storm shooters.”

“I never thought that an opportunity would present itself for me to go back to where my professional life all started.

“I believe everything happens for a reason and now that I have gotten an opportunity to return back there is no better feeling other than this. Thanks a lot for this opportunity. I missed all my fans in England and I can’t wait to reunite with them.”

Proscovia becomes Surrey Storm’s seventh signing of the 2022 Signing Window after Mikki Austin, Yasmin Parsons, Niamh Cooper, Frankie Wells, Emma Magee and Ellie Kelk. You can see the Storm squad as it develops here.

For all the latest of signings during the window, make sure to follow the @NetballSL on Twitter, Instagram and visit our Transfers page.