Netball Jamaica has announced the Under-21 squad that will face South Africa’s Under-21 players, dubbed the SPAR Baby Proteas. The two teams will compete in the upcoming three-match Margaret Beckford Sunshine Series, which kicks off this Saturday at the National Indoor Sports Centre in Kingst
The Under-21 team will be led by captain Roxonna McLean. The full list of team members is as follows:
Defence:
- Roxonna McLean
- Tiana Reid
- Crystal Nicholson
- Fentonian Henry
- Evelyn Smith
Centre Court:
- Jessica Champlain
- Shaqwan Hamilton
- Deandra Edwards
- De-Eziah Martin
- Mikeala Walker
Shooting:
- Kelliann Hunter
- Leneice Williams
- Nickiesha Powell
- Kaydeen Gordon
- Jada Ricketts
Head coach Annett Daley welcomed the opportunity presented by the series, as the Under-21 team has not had much competition leading up to it.
“This series is a welcome one for the Under-21 team. The girls have not been playing in any form of competition since they went to Guadeloupe for the qualifiers. Some members of the team from Guadeloupe have since stopped playing, so right now it’s about putting the team together with a mix of returning players and new members,” said Daley.
“It’s also about exposing the girls to different styles of play. For this particular Under-21 team, I call them the ‘COVID babies’ or the ‘COVID team’ because they came of age during the pandemic. Even at the Under-16 level, they didn’t get the usual competition due to COVID-19, which also disrupted their high school and college experiences.
“So the level of competition we would have wanted them to experience prior isn’t there. However, our local coaches have done an incredible job with these young ladies, particularly at the high school level, and as a result, we have an abundance of talent.
“My task now is to work with the other coaches to ensure the girls are understanding the game. This series will provide a benchmark for us to build upon as we prepare for the World Championship,” Daley added.
The three matches will be double-headers. The Under-21 teams will play first, followed by the senior teams. The match schedule is as follows:
- January 18: Under-21 at 3:00 pm, Senior at 6:00 pm
- January 22: Under-21 at 3:30 pm, Senior at 7:00 pm
- January 25: Under-21 at 3:00 pm, Senior at 6:00 pm
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