Contributed photos
LEFT:President of the Jamaica Netball Association, Marva Bernard.
RIGHT: Prime Minister Bruce Golding, jokingly falls to his knees in deference to the height of Sunshine Girls' shooter, the 1.96-metre Romelda Aiken, when she arrived at Jamaica House, along with the rest of the team to meet him, on her return from England on Monday. The team finished second to New Zealand in the inaugural World Netball Series Fast Net tournament in Manchester. Looking on from left are Minister with responsibility for Information, Telecommunications and Special Projects Daryl Vaz; parliament secretary in the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, Senator Warren Newby; and chairman of the Sports Development Foundation, David Mais.
André Lowe, Senior Staff Reporter
President of the Jamaica Netball Association (JNA), Marva Bernard, is still revelling in the success of the Sunshine Girls team that finished second at the recently concluded World Netball Series Fast Net tournament in Manchester, England, and is hoping that the performance will help to raise the prestige of the sport locally.
It was the nation's highest finish at an international netball tournament at the senior level and Bernard, while expressing her satisfaction with the team's performance, is hoping the JNA will now see increased attention and support from local sponsors.
Said Bernard, "We have no doubt about the quality of our product, we just need to convince others. This series was an eye-opener and several persons have called to congratulate us and I understand that a number of sponsors are now looking at us and this is what we want."
"We won't get additional support by losing, we will get support by winning which is what we always aim to do and so we always set out to compete hard. If we compete hard and lose by a slim margin it doesn't help, we have to win," Bernard added.
Historic
Bernard, who also serves on the International Federation of Netball Association's board as finance director, said it felt really good to watch the team claim their historic silver medal.
"It was overwhelming, wonderful, the feeling of pride when we looked at them out there with the anthem playing and you realise that a silver medal was assured brought a great feeling of joy. This is what we have all worked for all these years not just two years ago, but we always knew we can compete and this just goes to show how determined these girls are to do well," Bernard said.
"They knew what was at stake and I don't believe that they doubted themselves one bit. The girls recognised that if they lost to England and came fourth in that programme how difficult it would have been for the association to move them forward and I think they just went out there and did what they needed to do to survive," said Bernard.
Exciting alterations
The Fast Net version of the game has seen mixed reactions from players and officials across the world but the JNA boss is in full support of the new format that features several exciting alterations.
Bernard said, "It's (Fast Net) an exciting alternative to the regular game, netball needs some excitement and the Jamaican girls certainly went up there and made it exciting with their new uniforms and I guarantee that next year everybody is going to come out with new uniforms."
She also took time out to thank members of the Jamaican community in Manchester, England, who accommodated the delegation and made their entire stay a comfortable one.
"I want to thank Ms Deloris Henry Cooper and her team there, we owe them a huge debt of gratitude. They covered our cost to be there before the tournament and we really want to thank them. There were a lot of Jamaican supporters in there, they had their flags and the Pam Hall Sunshine Girls single playing every time we took the court, it was good."