Team remains focused despite security breach – Francis
Published:Friday | July 28, 2023 | 12:07 AM
National senior netball coach Connie Francis says that despite the security breach experienced, they remain focused on their main objective of a successful campaign as they begin their 2023 Netball World Cup with their pool opener against Sri Lanka this morning at 11 a.m. Jamaica time in Cape Town, South Africa.
Amid their preparations for the tournament, the team experienced a security breach at the team hotel, with captain Jhaniele Fowler voicing her concerns on social media on Wednesday, claiming that money was stolen from her purse.
Francis confirmed the claims and said that it was not only Jamaica that experienced these issues.
“It was not only Jhaniele, but Rebecca Robinson also had money stolen. It was not only us, the Trinidad team also had some money stolen. But last night (Wednesday) was a major concern when all teams were at the candle-lighting ceremony where strange men got on the floor and persons were trying to get into some players’ rooms,” Francis said. “But those were not our players.”
Team manager Karlene Waugh confirmed that the money was stolen while the team was at training.
AIRING FRUSTRATION
In an Instagram post on Wednesday Fowler had made her frustrations known about the situation.
“This place is not safe. First, they stole money from my purse and now people trying to come in on us in our rooms. Really!!”
Francis said that Netball Jamaica had been in contact with their security team which has advised them that they will need a detail if they wanted to leave the base for any reason.
“Netball Jamaica has contacted their head of security. What they told us is that we can’t go out on the road by ourselves. We have to inform them and they will get security to take us anywhere we want to,” Francis said, “There is a lot of stuff happening outside, so we are trying to keep safe and focus on the tournament.”
Waugh said that security has been increased for the team at their hotel, having brought the matter to World Netball who called the incident unacceptable.
“We do have security personnel on the floor and we also have security personnel in the hotel. They are plain officers and we also have security personnel that travel with us to and from venues.
Jamaica’s main focus now will be to start on a winning note against the Sri Lankans and Francis said that despite the challenges, they were not going to allow it to deter them from their goal of reaching the podium.
Jamaica will play Wales tomorrow at 4 a.m. Jamaica time before they have their first test of the tournament against host nation South Africa on Sunday at 11 a.m.