Guy banking on Dehaney

Jamaica Under-21 netball coach Janet Guy is banking on overseas-based defender Kadie-Ann Dehaney to lead the team's charge for medal at this World Youth Championships in Botswana.

The junior Sunshine Girls are scheduled to leave the island today for the championships.

The 20-year-old Dehaney, who is the most experienced player on the team, recently returned to the island after a successful stint in the Australian Super League.

Guy, who is in her stint as coach of the Under-21 team, said Dehaney's experience and leadership will played a vital role in the young Sunshine Girl's quest for a medal.

"She is the captain of the team and, with her experience, she should bring a lot to the table in terms of getting the girls together and getting them on the court," said Guy.

"She should be a good contributor in the defensive area with her height and her experience and so I am looking for big things from her as a big player," Guy said.

The vastly experienced Guy believes it will be a second time lucky for her, having coached the junior Sunshine Girls to their best-ever finish at the Under-21 championships, when they won silver medal in Wales 2000.

"I am feeling confident that the girls will do their best," said Guy. "We do not have the greatest set of players, but they are going to do their best to ensure that they give a good account of themselves and ensure that they make the country proud," she said.

Five members of the team recently represented the senior Sunshine Girls against Barbados in a three-Test match at the National Arena, which ended in a 1-1 draw. Guy said that experience was very valuable for players.

"I am so that they got a chance to work with the big Sunshine Girls, some of them got more court time than some, but I think the experience did well for them," said Guy.

The Under-21 team won a bronze medal at the Championships in Glasgow four-years ago, and Guy said once they put in the work, anything is possible.