Evering retires from int'l competition

Robert Bailey, Gleaner Writer

National netball representative Kasey Evering said she has retired from international competition effective immediately.

The lanky defender told The Gleaner in an exclusive interview yesterday that her body is no longer able to meet the demands of the game and, as such, she has decided to put an end to international career.

"I was not interested in playing for the national team any more, and so I believe that is it for me to move on with my life," said Evering.

"I am getting older and I have always been playing netball with a lot of injuries throughout my career, and so the fighting spirit is not there anymore," she said.

Evering added that she has written to the Jamaica Netball Association (JNA) to advise them about her decision.

"I think it is time for me now to spend more time with my son and my family because all my life I have been travelling and playing netball," Evering said. "I have been playing for the past 12 years and it is time for me move on to other things in life."

Her announcement comes a day after the JNA selected their 12-member team which will take on England in a three-Test series next month. Evering was not selected in the squad and said she was not disappointed.

"I am not disappointed because I had stopped training with the team after we came from the IFNA Caribbean Championships in Trinidad and Tobago," Evering said.

"I wish the team all the best in their upcoming series against England because I know that they will do well against the English girls," Evering noted.

illustrious career

The 30-year-old ends a decorated career in which she won bronze medals at the World Netball Championships (WNC) in 2003 in Kingston and 2007 in Auckland, New Zealand. She also won a silver for Jamaica at the World Youth Netball Championships in Wales in 2000, the same year she made her senior debut in England.

A string of knee injuries over the past three years kept Evering from playing at a high level. This also forced her to relinquish her professional contract with the New Zealand outfit Canterbury Tactix in the ANZ Championships last year. The injury also kept Evering out of the Sunshine Girls team at last year's WNC in Singapore.

Evering, who is regarded by many as one of Jamaica's most feared defenders, says she plans to continue playing for her local club Tivoli Gardens in the JNA Divisional Leagues.

"I am going to be still playing for Tivoli Gardens in the local league because I want to continue to stay in shape. But as far as the national team is concerned, I am finished playing for Jamaica," Evering remarked.