Netball president expects C’wealth final

Netball Jamaica (NJ) president Tricia Robinson says she is confident that the Sunshine Girls will finish in the top two at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England next month.

Robinson made the assessments after her NJ selected what it considers a strong 12-member squad on Wednesday, including six players based in Suncorp Super Netball in Australia.

The Sunshine Girls won the bronze medal at the last Commonwealth Games but Robinson said, based on the strength and depth of this team, they should go farther.

"It is an experienced squad that has been selected to represent Jamaica at the Commonwealth Games and we are expecting them to do well," she said. "We are providing all the necessary support around the team and we are hoping that they will do better than they did at the last Commonwealth Games.

"I am expecting them to put it all out on the court and do their best and to bring home a medal, and that is the only thing I am asking of them."

Robinson says that the local-based players have worked hard in their build-up to the championships, like their overseas-based counterparts, and they are physically and mentally prepared to deal with the rigours of the competition.

Jamaica finished fifth at the last Netball World Cup in 2019 in Liverpool, but Robinson says that is now behind them and they are looking forward to a successful year.

"The players are focussed on the path ahead and what is necessary for them to get on the podium, because they know what it takes to be champions," she said. "That is behind us now and we are looking ahead because we have the Commonwealth Games and this a big-ticket item for ranking points, and we have the Netball World Cup next year, and some tours in-between. So, yes, we are looking forward to what's to come because they know what is at stake for us."