NJ employs defensive coach

In an effort to improve the Sunshine Girls team defensively, Netball Jamaica (NJ) has acquired the services of defensive coach Rob Wright of Australia to work with the national team.

Tricia Robinson, president of NJ, told STAR Sports that the vastly experienced Wright, who is an assistant coach with Northern Mystics in the ANZ Championship in New Zealand, has been volunteering his services virtually to the national senior team since early January.

"He is assisting the national programme and he is doing so virtually," said Robinson.

"We recognised that there are certain areas of the programme that need assistance and so he was brought on to work with the Sunshine Girls," she said.

Robinson added that the Girls are very excited to be working with Wright and her association is delighted to have him on board ahead of this year's Commonwealth Games. This is the first time that NJ has appointed a defensive coach for the national team.

The Sunshine Girls' defensive third has been a problem, especially in the latter of stages of their matches over the years and Robinson says she is now hoping that Wright will help the team to become much better in this area.

"This is a strategic move for the organisation and I do believe that his experience and expertise will certainly benefit the team a lot going forward," Robinson noted.

Sunshine Girls captain Jhaniele Fowler said she is hoping that Wright will help to improve the team.

"I believe that Netball Jamaica has the team's best interest at heart and so they will do what is best for us,so I am feeling very good about this move," said Fowler.

"To be honest, we have been doing really good in defence and I feel that he will only strengthen us in this area," she said.