‘Commonwealth Games medal down to mentality of Sunshine Girls’

FORMER CAPTAIN Simone Forbes and veteran local coach Sylvester Campbell believe that the Sunshine Girls will have to be very disciplined and mentally tough in order to secure a medal at next month’s Commonwealth Games.

Netball Jamaica (NJ) has selected a very strong 12-member squad for the championships that includes six players who are currently plying their trade in the Suncorp Super Netball League in Australia.

They include Jhaniele Fowler, who is the reigning Most Valuable Player of the Suncorp Super Netball League and record goal shooter in this season’s competition with 804 goals.

The outstanding Shamera Sterling, who is rated as the top defender in the world, tops Super League with the most interceptions (52) this season. The other members are Shimona Nelson, who is the second leading scorer in Australia with 701 goals, Kadie-Ann Dehaney, Jodi-Ann Ward and Latanya Wilson, who all had solid years Down Under.

The other members of the Connie Francis-coached squad are Shanice Beckford, Adean Thomas, Shadian Hemmings, Nicole Dixon-Rochester, Rebeckah Robinson and Khadijah Williams.

The Sunshine Girls won the bronze medal at the last championships four years ago but according to Forbes, this year’s team has the quality and depth to challenge for one of the top two spots.

“I believe that we have the goods to do it at the Commonwealth Games,” said Forbes.

MENTAL TOUGHNESS

“I think discipline and mental toughness are also very important so that when you go out there, you know that you are going up against the best teams in the world so you have to bring your A game,” she said.

“I think that it is going to come down to the team that wants it the most and the players who are willing to give every single thing that it takes to win,” Forbes stated.

The 40-year-old Forbes, who is rated as one of the best Jamaican goal attacks of all time, is currently the vice president of NJ.

She pointed out that the medal games at the tournament are usually decided by three goals or less and therefore the Sunshine Girls will have to ensure that execution is on point from game one. “As you know these championships are usually decided by one, two or three goals and so you have to be disciplined on court and take care of the ball at all times,” Forbes said.

“I think that if you match the teams in terms of player for player, of course Jamaica has the best group of players for me, but it is really going to boil down to the team that makes the least mistakes that is going to win and I believe that we can do it,” she said.

Campbell, who is a former International umpire, emphasised that the Sunshine Girls must concentrate for long periods and they must also maintain their discipline throughout the tournament in order to become successful in Birmingham.

“I think that if we have the right combinations out there, then I think that our chances are as good as any of the other teams,” said Campbell.

“If we say that we have these players playing in the Australian league and they are doing so well with Jhaniele Fowler at the top, I am assuming that our chances of winning a medal is just as equal,” he said.

“I think we will have to concentrate and play really hard and stay focused. We also have to be mentally tough because most times it is teams that are mentally tough that are the ones on the podium,” Campbell pointed out.

The Sunshine Girls are scheduled to leave the island on July 21 for the Games, which will be held from July 28 to August 8 in Birmingham, England.

robert.bailey@gleanerjm.com