Jamaica’s sunshine girls road to South Africa netball campaign gathered some financial traction this morning, when the government through the ministry of sports pledged 10 million dollars towards the campaign .
the announcement was made by Sports minister Olivia ‘basby’ Grange at this morning’s launch at the summit hotel and wellness Centre in Kingston, bolstering netball Jamaica’s 51 million dollars budget for the Netball World Cup in Cape Town this summer.
Minister of Sports The Hon, Olivia Grange addresses the audience at the Launch of Netball Jamaica’s – ‘Road to Cape Town” World Cup Campaign at the Summit Hotel in Kingston, (Photo by Dwight Fraser)
However despite the shot in the arm, the local governing body will still have to find a further 20 million dollars to assist in sending the Jamaican team to the tournament which starts on July 28.
meanwhile head coach Connie Francis, explained that the current squad in training, will be cut in the next two weeks, as the tip off of the competition draws closer.
the current squad features captain and shooter Jhnaeile fowler, along with others shooters, – in vice captain Shanice Beckford, Rolemda Aiken, Rebekah Robinson, Amanda pickney, Mischa Creary and Tracy Ann Francis, Simone Gordon, and Odeacha Johnson.
the defenders include, Shamera Sterling, Latanya Wilson, Kadie-Ann Dehaney , Jody Ann ward, Malysia Kelly, Abigail Linton, Crystal Plummer, Chamoi Manahan, Theresa Beckford and Paula- Ann burton.
while those who alternate between centre and both wing and goal attack include, Nicole Dixon -Rochester, the seasoned Khadijah Williams, Kimone Shaw, Abigaile Sutherland, Tavone Bartley, Cheneka Jones, Chamoi Manahan, Shadine Bartley, Roxana McLean, Adean Thomas, Quianna Walker,
Drawn in pool C, the Sunshine girls will face host South Africa, Sri- Lanka and Wales in the group stage of the competition.