Fowler ready to shine in ANZ Netball Champs

Robert Bailey, Gleaner Writer

Sunshine Girls' ace goal shooter, Jhaniele Fowler, has vowed to make a big impact at the next year's staging of the ANZ Netball championships.

The 22-year-old Fowler, who stands at 6'5", recently signed a one-year contract with Adelaide Thunderbirds to play in the championships, which is played in Australia and New Zealand.

"I am confident that I will do very well in the league," said Fowler, who recently represented the Sunshine Girls at the World FastNet Championships in Liverpool, England.

"I am a very good player, who always listens to coaches' instructions on the court, and so I know that I will make my country very proud of me," said the lanky player.

Fowler added that her selection by the Thunderbirds to present them in the ANZ Championships is a dream come true.

"It is a good feeling and it is great to know that one of the top championships netball teams in the world has signed me to be a part of their organisation," Fowler said. "I will also like to thank the Jamaica Netball Association, because they saw the potential in me and they worked on it, to get me to where I am now," she said.

Continuing, Fowler said: "I am hoping to go over there and do my best so that I can become one of the top players in the championship."

However, Fowler, who was the most prolific shooter for the Sunshine Girls at the World Netball Championships (WNC) in Singapore earlier this year, is unable to take the court in the competition until fellow Jamaican Carla Borrego gains her citizenship.

Thunderbirds' import

The 10 teams in the championships are allowed one import and Borrego has that status with Adelaide. However, Borrego was granted permanent residency recently, and this is a significant step to her being awarded citizenship. Fowler would then become the Thunderbirds' import.

Despite this, Fowler, who represents Waulgrovians in the local leagues, is very optimistic that things will work out in her favour.

"I have always wanted to play in the ANZ ever since I started playing with the national team, because I think that it will make me a better player for Jamaica," she said. "I am just keeping my fingers crossed that things will work for me," Fowler said.

Fowler attracted the attention of Thunderbirds during the WNC when she replaced Romelda Aiken as goal shooter in Jamaica's starting line-up in the semi-finals of the championships. Aiken, who represents the Queensland Firebirds, is the other Jamaica player playing in the ANZ championships, which will run from March to July.