Sunshine Girls ready for World Cup – Williams

As the Sunshine Girls prepare to depart the island tomorrow for the Netball World Cup (NWC) in Liverpool, England, vice-captain Vangelee Williams says that the Jamaicans are mentally and physically ready for the championships.

The championships will be held from July 12-21.

Williams, who will be competing in her second NWC, told The Gleaner that the coaching staff has worked tirelessly to ensure that the girls are fully prepared in all departments for the tournament.

“We are in the mood for it, and we are very focused and ready to kick-start our campaign at the Netball World Cup tournament in Liverpool,” said Williams.

“Fitness is the key because it is a tough competition, and you are competing hard from the very first game, and so we are of the belief that we couldn’t have got any better preparation from our two coaches and fitness coach, and so we are just ready to perform,” she said.

“We have been having a lot of physiology sessions, and we have also done rap sessions with each other and to bounce off each other any negative things that we might have as individuals,” Williams said.

The Sunshine Girls, who are ranked third in the world, finished fourth in the last NWC, which was held in Australia four years ago.

However, the Marvette Anderson-coached unit returned to capture a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, in April last year.

The Sunshine Girls should also feel very confident due to the fact that they defeated Commonwealth Games champions England 3-0 on home soil in their last competitive series in October.

HARD WORK

Williams added that the Sunshine Girls have worked hard in the build-up to the competition, and everyone is determined to do their best at the championships.

“We have also had a lot of development, and based on that, the girls are ready to go, and we are looking forward to the challenge,” said Williams.

“Our medal prospects are always great because at the end of the day, nobody plays to lose. We are counted as one of the top teams in the competition, and so our aim is to be on the podium at the end of the championships,” Williams pointed out.

The Jamaicans are set to face Fiji in their opening match of the tournament on July 12.