Johnson credits mix of youth, experience for Elite League title defence
Published:Tuesday | July 23, 2024 | 12:10 AMOrane Buchanan/Staff Reporter
SHANNIKA JOHNSON, captain of the title-winning Manchester Spurs netball team, believes the perfect mix of youth and experience helped her team successfully defend Elite League crown.
According to Johnson, the mix of youth and experience, with lazer-like focus on the team’s objectives, provided the ingredients for the victory.
“It was definitely youth and experience and I think that is what we had over them, along with a combination of teamwork. That made us victorious and I also believe we were committed to the objectives that we set,” she said.
The Spurs led each quarter of Sunday’s final to defeat the St Catherine Racers 45-38.
According to Johnson, the bond among the group was also integral towards the success of the team.
“I have to thank God for everything He has done for us this season. We wanted to win and we have been building a very good bond, which is sisterhood. We knew the objectives, we stuck to it and I believe the synergy between us worked. We support each other every step of the way and whenever a player makes a mistake we go and help to make that player feel comfortable by intercepting the ball,” Johnson added.
Abigail Sutherland, captain of the Racers, said she was proud that her team made its way to the final.
According to Sutherland, going down 16-5 in the opening quarter created a situation from which they were always going to find extrication difficult.
DISAPPOINTED
“I’m a bit disappointed but also proud. The ladies worked really hard to get into the final. We just started a bit slow. The Spurs are a team that is hard to catch once you’re lagging behind, so while it was a fair performance we could have done better,” she said.
On reflection, Sutherland believes it was a good season for the team, as she saw players grow from strength to strength.
“I’m really proud because each player developed throughout the league, so that’s a good feeling. We wanted the gold but it was a good tournament for us,” she said.
President of Netball Jamaica, Tricia Robinson, explained that injuries to some of the top players hampered the competitiveness of the competition but believes things should improve next season.
“We had some injuries that affected some teams and I think that impacted the competitiveness of the competition. We had some players who, had they been in it, it would have been more competitive. We are looking at persons from the Caribbean being in the competition come next year,” said the president.