Anderson promises fit Sunshine Girls
Published:Friday | June 21, 2019 | 12:17 AMRobert Bailey/Gleaner Writer
With less than three weeks to go before the start of this year’s INF World Cup tournament in Liverpool, England, national senior netball team head coach Marvette Anderson said she is very pleased with the Sunshine Girls’ fitness ahead of the tournament.
The Jamaicans, who are ranked third in the world, are often criticised for their lack of fitness and endurance in the latter stages of international matches.
However, Anderson told The Gleaner that this will not be the case at this competition as the Sunshine Girls have worked tirelessly in training to improve their fitness ahead of the championships, which will be held from July 12-22.
“We have been working on our fitness, definitely, because in order to compete, you have to be fitter than your opponents, and you have be stronger. Fitness has been a key factor of our preparation, and we continue to work on that aspect of the team,” said Anderson.
“I like what has been happening because the ladies have been working hard. We have been working on some tactical aspects of the game, as well, and I think that we are 95 per cent at where we want to be,” Anderson said.
The Sunshine Girls, who are ranked below world No. 1 side Australia and second-rated New Zealand, will enter this year’s championships on a high after thrashing reigning Commonwealth Games champions England 3-0 on home soil last October.
However, the Jamaicans finished fourth in the last championships, which was held four years ago. But Anderson pointed out that the Sunshine Girls believe that they will win a medal at this year’s championships.
“The players are upbeat, and they are looking forward to the championships, and I know that they are confident in themselves,” she said.
“They have the opportunity to play for that gold medal, and I am sure that is at the front of their minds, and that is what they are aiming for going into the championships,” she stated.
The Sunshine Girls are scheduled to leave the island on June 28 for a week-long training camp in Manchester, England.