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Sunshine Girls ‘over the moon’ - National netballers bubbling for South Africa series
December 10, 2024
JAMAICA's Sunshine Girls are on Cloud Nine, eagerly awaiting matches in the upcoming three-Test series against South Africa next year.
The Sunshine Girls tipped off preparations yesterday for their upcoming home series against the world number five South Africans and Simone Forbes,
Vice-President at Netball Jamaica says the players are brimming in anticipation of playing before their home crowd.
"They're actually over the moon," Forbes admitted.
The series is scheduled to begin on January 18, with the second and third matches slated for January 22nd and 25th. All games will be played at the National Indoor Sports Centre (NISC) in Kingston.
"One of the things we at Netball Jamaica decided on was that we really need to be playing more netball, and at home to give the ladies an opportunity to play in front of their families, friends and supporters. Therefore, they can't contain themselves, especially due to what transpired during the England series," she said.
The Sunshine Girls are fresh off their recently concluded home and away series against England's Vitality Roses which they won 2-1 after tying one of two matches in Manchester, England, before winning both matches on home court in the other half of the series played at the NISC.
Forbes said the team is currently engaged in training schemes targeted at registering another victory on home soil against strong opposition.
"We started training yesterday, as the squad was selected. They're 18 players that the selectors have chosen and that number will be cut to 15," she revealed.
While keeping her cards close to the chest about the players that are expected to feature in the South Africa series, Forbes shared that it would be a similar line-up as the one that played in their most recent series.
"Supporters can expect just about the same level of netball that they saw against England. The team will be just as strong," she said.
Forbes explained that the expectations of the Sunshine Girls are very high based on their recent track record and she expects the same level of intensity and competitiveness.
"Coming off the England series, and playing four big games would have given them some level of competitiveness under their belt. Therefore, I'm expecting them to look better against South Africa, come January," she said.
