In this file photo, Jamaica's goal shooter Elaine Davis (left) positions to challenge for a rebound off a shot from team-mate Tiffanie Wolfe (GA) during their World Netball Championship match against Trinidad and Tobago last year. Davis and Wolfe are expected to figure prominently in Jamaica's opening match against St. Kitts' Nevis in the Caribbean Netball Championship, which starts in Trinidad and Tobago today.
-File photo
Daraine Luton, Freelance Writer
OPERATION Caribbean Netball Championship begins today for the World No. 3 ranked Sunshine Girls, who are set to brighten up the Jean Pierre Complex in Port of Spain, Trinidad when they play St. Kitts at 6:00 p.m.
Jamaica have not played any competitive netball since July 20 last year when they beat England to take the bronze medal at the World Netball Championships held in Kingston.
Subsequently, the Jamaican team bid good-bye to Maureen Hall, who retired as coach after the championships. They also lost veteran attacker Connie Francis, who decided to call it quits 18 years after playing her first game in 1986.
Four other players: Georgia Gordon, Sharon Wiles, Althea Byfield and Carla Williams were all not available for the Championship, a situation which led the new national coach, Janet Guy, and her selection committee to blood three youngsters in Trinidad and Tobago ahead of next years World Under-21 tournament.
The youngsters - Kadia Kentish, who went to the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England, Tameka Stewart and Peter-gaye Thomas, along with the uncapped Marvetta Murray and the recalled Tasha Morgan are all awaiting the first taste of Caribbean action in the twin-island republic.
MATCH UP
Also at court side awaiting today's match up against minors St. Kitts are Tiffanie Wolfe, Simone Forbes, Nichala Gibson and Kasey Evering, a quartet which signifies the fiery brigade on Jamaica's team.
Complimenting these 'young gunners' are veterans Elaine Davis, Nadine Bryan and captain Oberon Pitterson, rounding off a strong Jamaican team that is expected to take the Caribbean title they have not defended since winning in 2000.
From the inauguration of the Caribbean Championship in 1984, Jamaica have participated on only nine occasions. They won seven times (1989, 1990, 1991, 1994, 1996, 1997 and 2000), coming up empty handed on only two occasions, in 1984 and 1988.
Having relinquished the silverware four years ago, Guy and her girls says it is high time they take it back to the Land of wood and water.
"The girls are ready to go out there and play," Guy told The Gleaner from her hotel room in Trinidad and Tobago last evening.
"We are ready. We will be approaching the game with confidence and we will come out playing hard after which we will make the adjustments in the respective quarters," Guy added.
Likewise, Evering, who The Gleaner dubbed 'queen of interception' during last year's WNC, has her eyes fixed on a great tournament.
"I am ready. I don't know what the opponents have to offer but the team is going out there to play and we will be playing hard," Evering promised.
Team (from): Elaine Davis, Tiffanie Wolfe, Simone Forbes, Marvetta Murray (shooters), Nadine Bryan, Tasha Morgan, Peter-Gaye Thomas, Nichala Gibson (WD), Tameka Stewart, Kadia Kentish, Oberon Pitterson and Kasey Evering.
