Fowler looks ahead to Commonwealth Games optimistically

WITH SEVEN Jamaicans now playing in Suncorp Super Netball in Australia, national senior team captain Jhaniele Fowler says that the Sunshine Girls now have a chance of putting on a good showing at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, next year.

Along with Fowler, who plays for West Coast Fever, the other Jamaicans in the league are Romelda Aiken, Shamera Sterling, Shimona Nelson, Jodi-Ann Ward, Kadian Dehaney, and Latanya Wilson.

The Sunshine Girls, who are ranked fourth in the world, finished third at the last Games in 2018.

However, the Jamaicans then finished fifth a year later at the Netball World Cup in Liverpool, England.

GAINING EXPOSURE

Fowler says that Jamaican players in Australia have gained much exposure and experience and she is hopeful that this will be of benefit to the national team.

“I reckon that it is going to be very good for the national programme because we tend to go back home and bring back what we have learnt from this league, so it is good that we are having so many players getting exposure and it is going to be good for the national team,” she said.

“I wish we had some of our midcourt players here as well, because we mostly have shooters and defenders here.”

Fowler says that she was impressed with her compatriots’ performances in the opening round matches in Super Netball last week and she is expecting them to maintain that form for the rest of the season.

“We just have to bring our knowledge back home and it will definitely help to boost us going into the Commonwealth Games next year,” she said.

“I felt that all seven of us in the first round played very well. Romelda was amazing in her game, Jodi-Ann was very good in defence, as well as Shamera. Kadian came on and played against me and she did really well. I was so proud of her, and Shimona did a great job for the Magpies . So I am very proud of how well the girls have been playing.”