Sunshine Girls ready for the world

Robert Bailey, Gleaner Writer

SINGAPORE:

With just two days to go before the Sunshine Girls play their opening match of the World Netball Championships against South Africa, head coach Oberon Pitterson has said that all members of the team are fully fit and raring to go.

"I am expecting something from the podium. I am expecting to win," she said.

The Jamaicans have every right to be confident, after playing to an exciting 1-1 draw against world champions Australia in January. The Sunshine Girls then defeated arch-rivals and third-ranked England 2-1 in their last competitive series in England.

"I think that they have the tools and the equipment to get the job done," said Pitterson, who took over the reins as head coach from Connie Francis last month.

"I also want to be able to motivate them so that they believe that they can do this together as a team. They have worked hard, and they should be rewarded," she said.

Confident

The Jamaicans, who won the bronze medal at the last championships, which was held in Auckland, New Zealand, in 2007, will oppose Botswana a day later. They will next face the hosts, Singapore, in their final group game the following day.

"They are ready and they are very confident, and they are also very focused and they are excited to go out there now," said Pitterson, who is also a former national defender.

She added that the country and their followers have invested heavily in them and they are going to reward them by bringing home the gold medal.

"We have numerous sponsors and for that we are indebted to them, and so I think the ladies know that the entire Jamaica is behind them, and they are capable of carrying Jamaica on their backs and they are going to do that by winning the gold medal," Pitterson noted. "I know that when they look back, they are going to say that they have to get this done, and I know that they will do it."

Romelda Aiken

Age: 22

Position: Goal shooter

Height: 6'4"

Occupation: Professional netballer

Club: Jamalco

Expectations: I expect us to do well in this World Championships by exceeding our previous placing at this tournament. 

Malysha Kelly

Age: 21

Positions: Goal defence, goalkeeper

Height: 6'1"

Occupation: Student

Club: University of the West Indies

Expectations: To compete at the highest level and to bring home the gold medal.