Forbes tips Sunshine Girls for World Cup

Former national senior netball team captain Simone Forbes said she is very confident that the Sunshine Girls can win the gold medal at this year’s International Netball Federation Netball World Cup (NWC) tournament. The NWC will be held in Liverpool, England, from July 12-21.

Forbes, who is rated as one of the country’s best-ever netballer players, toldThe Gleaner that this is one of the best cohort of players that the country has produced in a very long time. Therefore, they have a real chance of topping the medal podium in July.

Best chance

“I think that Jamaica, and the team we have, and, the crop of ladies that we have now is one of the best I see across the board,” Forbes said.

“I don’t mean that we have a good attack, and are not so good in defence. I mean that we are balanced across the board, and I believe this could be our year,” she said.

“I believe that [with] the group of ladies that the association has, this year ought to be Jamaica’s year. I believe we will win, and that is my prediction now,” Forbes said.

The 37-year-old Forbes, who retired from the sport in 2011, helped the Sunshine Girls to back-to-back bronze medals at the World Championships in 2003 and 2007. However, she added that this year’s NWC is going to be exciting because all the top teams are evenly matched in all departments.

“Let me tell you, I don’t want to miss this year’s World Championships,” she said. “I don’t want to watch it on TV. I want to sit in the stands and watch it, because I believe that it’s going to be one of the best World Championships.”

The Sunshine Girls, who won the bronze medal at last year’s Commonwealth Games, are ranked third in the world behind Australia and New Zealand. England, who won gold at last year’s Commonwealth Games, are ranked fourth in the world.