Robinson: Aiken will be missed at Commonwealth Games
Published:Friday | February 25, 2022 | 12:10 AMRobert Bailey/Gleaner Writer
President of Netball Jamaica Tricia Robinson says the unavailability of goal shooter Romelda Aiken for this year’s Commonwealth Games will be a huge blow to the Sunshine Girls team at the tournament.
The Commonwealth Games will be held in Birmingham, England, from July 28 to August 8.
Aiken, 33, who plies her trade for the Queensland Firebirds in the Suncorp Super League in Australia, announced on Instagram on Wednesday that she is expecting her first child.
Aiken, a naturalised Australian citizen, posted: ”@bigdangeorge and I are delighted to announce baby George is coming soon.”
The goal shooter, who is a former Jamalco player, last represented the Sunshine Girls at the 2019 Netball World Cup in Liverpool, England.
Robinson told The Gleaner that Aiken has been a crucial member of the Sunshine Girls’ over the last decade, and so her absence will be a huge blow for the team.
“She will most definitely be missed, because she is a leader and she is also a very experienced player,” said Robinson.
OPPORTUNITY
“Every player is an integral part of the team, however, and so when one takes time out to start their family, we rejoice at that news,” she said. “The team is happy for her, but we will give somebody else the opportunity to step in,” Robinson said.
The other shooters who will be vying for spots on the team are captain Jhaniele Fowler, Shimona Nelson, Amanada Pickney, Shanice Beckford, Gelleze Allison and Rebekah Robinson.
The Sunshine Girls, who are ranked fourth in the world, won the bronze medal at the last Commonwealth Games, which was held in Gold Coast, Australia.
Robinson underscored that the girls have been working very hard in their preparations, because they are aiming to do much better than they did at the last championships.
“We have been planning for the Commonwealth Games, and we are working on doing much better than we did the last time,” she said. “We want to be in the final ... that is our aim and we are determined to get there this year,” she said.