‘Up for grabs’
Spice Girls ready to break 19-year absence from Netball World Cup
Published:Thursday | October 13, 2022 | 12:10 AMOrane Buchanan/Staff Reporter
THE ‘SPICE Girls’ of Grenada have not been to a Netball World Cup in 19 years. They want to be at the next one.
Shakira Collymore, captain of the Spice Girls, shares those hopes when she considers the upcoming Americas Netball World Cup qualifiers in Kingston, Jamaica.
“We are very focused, and I know my team has a very good chance at taking one of the two qualifying spots for (South) Africa next year. We have been working hard, with a good cadre of players and we are just ready to compete,” said Collymore.
The Spice Girls, who arrived yesterday, will have three days to fine-tune preparations ahead of Sunday’s start to the tournament.
Collymore believes that the attacking third will have a big part to play in order for her team to leave the tournament on a positive note. Still, the Grenadians, she noted, would also have to defend as a team.
“We know that goals win matches, so our shooters have been putting in a lot of work. The more accurate you are, the more you convert, so that’s the area in which we are focusing heavily.
“Defence is not only for our defenders, but the entire team has to defend when we lose the ball, so we worked hard on team defence and conversion in order to win matches,” she added.
Though the number-20 ranked in the world is only fourth in the Americas region, Collymore believes those numbers won’t count for much at tip-off on Sunday.
“Honestly, I don’t think it matters. It’s a level playing field. Everyone is out there to take it one game at a time and come out victorious at the end. I believe there are no clear-cut winners, to say okay this team is going to qualify.
“The only team that’s sure is Jamaica because they’ve already qualified. So those two spots up for grabs are open to any team, and I know that Grenada will be one of them,” said the Grenada captain.
When quizzed about the mood of the camp, an upbeat Collymore said she was pleased with the spirit in the team.
“We are up in spirit and are rallying together as a team. We have been doing a lot of team bonding, just pushing and encouraging each other, because we are ready and raring to go.”