Fowler-Reid signs for ANZ's West Coast Fever

After five successful years playing for the Southern Steel in New Zealand), experienced senior Sunshine Girl ace shooter Jhaniele Fowler-Reid will not return next season. Instead, she will be plying her trade in the Suncorp Super League in Australia after recently signing a two-year contract for the West Coast Fever, one of the top netball clubs team in that country.

Fowler Reid will join three other Sunshine Girls in Australia, Romelda Aiken, Malysha Kelly, and current Under-21 captain Kadie-Ann Dehaney, who is presently in Botswana representing the country at the Netball World Youth Cup.

Fowler-Reid confirmed her transfer with The Gleaner yesterday. The past season has been one of, if not the best for Fowler-Reid in the ANZ Premiership. Her team had a perfect season, winning all 21 matches played, including a solid finals performance where they outplayed Pulse 69-53. Fowler-Reid said she transferred for a new challenge. "Despite some ups and downs for the team this year, where our team bus overturned in June while going to play a match in Auckland, it was our most successful season," she said. "But for me, I need more of a challenge because there are a lot of good defenders in Australia. The competition there will be more challenging and that will surely lift my game," she added.

The team played a match the day after the mentioned accident without several of its top players, who were injured. They went on to win, regardless. "Several of our players got serious injuries from the accident and I was lucky because my bag, which was beside me on the seat, cushioned me from getting any serious injuries, although I was a bit shaken," she said.

MIXED FEELINGS

According to Fowler-Reid, it was mixed feelings for her teammates at Southern Steel. "They were happy and sad that I was leaving. Happy for me personally, as they knew that I will be getting an opportunity for my game to be lifted, but at the same time, sad knowing that I will not be playing with them anymore," she continued.

Fowler-Reid stated that she will not be going to Australia until next year and despite getting a two-year contract, she has only signed for one year. "I have signed only for one year,but I have the option to sign for another year when that is finished," said Fowler-Reid, who stated that she will be busy playing netball back in Jamaica when she returns to the island this Saturday.

She added that she is looking forward to being back in the National training squad. "I am preparing myself to return to the National squad and will be ready to play in the (Caribbean Senior Netball Championship) this summer. Hopefully, the environment is conducive for this, as I am hoping there are a lots of positives in the organisation (Netball Jamaica) so that when I am ready to play, there will be no stress as I want to enjoy my game," said Fowler-Reid, who was the captain of the Jamaica team which defeated number-three ranked England 2-1 late last year away in a friendly three-match series.