Netball Jamaica leaves 2024 with a win
Published:Tuesday | January 21, 2025 | 12:09 AMOrane Buchanan/Staff Reporter
NETBALL JAMAICA enjoyed a relatively successful 2024.
The Sunshine Girls ended the year ranked third, leapfrogging England in the rankings on the back of their 2-1 victory in the Horizon series which was played at the AO Arena in Manchester, England, and the National Indoor Sports Centre in Kingston, Jamaica.
After trailing 1-0 from Manchester after a 49-49 tie and a 47-55 loss at the O2 Arena in Manchester, England, the Sunshine Girls won both home games, their first international endeavour in 15 months, 50-49, and 61-53 to seal the series.
According to Simone Forbes, vice president at Netball Jamaica, the players, coaches, and management were all aware of the impact a series victory over England would have.
“We (Netball Jamaica) are extremely happy and pleased with the improved ranking from fourth to third. The players have been working really hard and we knew the effect beating England in the Horizon series would have. Therefore, we’re happy that we got enough ranking points to go ahead,” she stated.
Australia continue to head the rankings with 204 points, New Zealand are second on 192 points and Jamaica, third with 189. England with 188, and South Africa on 160, round out the top five placings.
With a plethora of local talent playing in the Australian Suncorp League, it was pleasing for Netball Jamaica to see national players Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard, Shamera Sterling-Humphrey, and Latanya Wilson named to the Suncorp team of the year.
According to Forbes, it’s crucial that the Jamaicans continue to excel ‘Down Under’.
“It’s very crucial as, while playing in Australia, which I think has the best league in the world, the players have done extremely well. Three were on the team of the year and all the others are also doing well. Eight players are playing top-tier netball and we are happy with that as this trickles down into our programme. The local players get to play with the ladies who are coming back with a wealth of experience,” she added.
Also making news in 2024 was former head coach of the Sunshine Girls Connie Francis. Francis was appointed director of English club Birmingham Panthers in November, a job she was eyeing for quite a while.
“It’s a welcoming change, and I’m looking forward to seeing how far this journey can take me. I’ve always envisioned myself coaching full-time. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do. I’m not overly confident to say, ‘Yes, I can win a championship.’ As I know everything is a work in progress, and the first thing is just to get on board with all the stakeholders and understand their culture,” she shared.
Trinidad and Tobago’s under-16 and under-18 teams were in Jamaica to participate in the Island Vibes tournament just ahead of the start of high school netball. The Winston Nevers-coached Denbigh High dominated that tournament.
According to Forbes, plans are already afoot for the tournament to be a staple on Netball Jamaica’s calendar.
“This is the launching pad and we want this to be a yearly event. It’s not just about the netball playing, but the technical aspects and the coaching workshops that we run. We believe it will work, bear fruit as we believe in the grassroots and building the sport,” said Forbes.
If there was to be a demerit on the part of Netball Jamaica, it would be the continued disappointing performances of its teams to Fast5 World Series competitions.
Last year, the tournament was held in Christchurch, New Zealand, with Jamaica, sporting largely local-based talent.
According to Forbes, the use of players from local leagues was intentional and was meant to, for want of a better term, blood youngsters, who need a feel for international competition.
On November 10, Jamaica lost 36-38 to England, a result that suggested they had been competitive. However, before that a 43-26 shellacking had come from rising African powerhouses, Uganda.
Things well and truly had not gone well for the Jamaicans, who were hammered 56-39 by Australia in their second game, and this was after South Africa, who they are now playing in the Margaret Beckford Sunshine Series, beat them 33-25.
The close result against England in their final game, though, may be a good example of what Forbes speaks about. Especially, if it is borne in mind, the first time the teams met at the Fast5 Series, England had blown them out 35-15.