Captain fantastic - Fowler-Reid praises netball's growth after being named Team Jamaica's Commonwealth Games skipper
Published:Wednesday | April 4, 2018 | 12:00 AMRachid Parchment/ Sports News Coordinator
National senior netball team skipper Jhaniele Fowler-Reid said that it speaks volumes about the growth of the sport's profile that she was named captain of Jamaica's Commonwealth Games team, which is currently competing on the Gold Coast in Australia.
Fowler-Reid, in expressing her delight in the achievement, praised her teammates, saying that they, too, have represented the nation well throughout the years and that also aided in her selection.
"Being named team captain for Jamaica's Commonwealth contingent is just a wonderful feeling," she told The Gleaner. "I think it's really amazing that a netballer has been named. It speaks a lot, not only about me, but how far netball has grown and how we have stepped up to the plate in representing our country.
"Any one of us could've represented and could've stood tall and led the contingent and been that positive person that everyone could look up to. I'm pretty pleased that I'm selected and very, very honoured and elated about this. I'm looking forward to doing my best and making Jamaica very proud, not only to be named as captain, but also to be playing very hard out there on the court."
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Reid has 56 international caps and has been a Sunshine Girl since 2010. Her last Commonwealth Games participation for Jamaica saw her and her teammates take the bronze medal in Glasgow, Scotland, in 2014.
The Sunshine Girls will next be in action on Friday morning at 12 a.m. when they take on South Africa in a Pool A match at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Jamaica's Day Two activities also see the national mixed doubles pair of Dennis Coke and Katherine Wynter continuing their quest for gold when they face Zambia in Group B badminton action at the Carrara Sports Arena at 11 p.m. tonight.
Jamaica will also debut in lawn bowls as the duo of Andrew Newell and Mervyn Edwards go up against South Africa in Men's Pairs Section B Round 3. This takes place at the Broadbeach Lawn Bowls venue at 1 a.m. on Friday morning, Jamaica time. Newell and Edwards will contest Round 4 against Wales at the same location at 4 a.m.