DESPITE the huge role which has been foisted upon her within the last year, there is no sign of fear of responsibility for national netball goal-shooter Jhaniele Fowler.

Fowler has been the principal goal-shooter for the Sunshine Girls in the absence of Romelda Aiken who has been away from the team for much of the last year playing in the ANZ Championship in Australia.

At only 21 years old, her height would signal that she was born and bred for the role of goal-shooter.

“Some people have it. Some people have to acquire it. I’m one of those who has not had to go ahead and look for it. It’s just in me,” Fowler told the Observer.

“It’s a little more responsibility. With me I know I have to get it done. So no pressure,” she added.

“I see a lot of things happening for me once I just take the concentration (and) work towards what I want.”

Originally from Montego Bay where she started playing netball at Farm Primary School, Fowler travelled more than half way across the country and now calls the parish of St Thomas home. She lives there with her one-year-old daughter Rihanna and her daughter’s father.

“A part of me wanted to relocate. Coming from Montego Bay to play and to train is kind of hectic and I have family in St Thomas and I love (St Thomas) so I moved,” she said.

“I’m not really the outgoing type. Where I live is quiet, so I adapted well to it. It wasn’t any big transformation for me,” she explained of the change from big city life to the rural confines of St Thomas.

Fowler had to leave her job to focus on her duties as a national player, but says it has been worth it, especially with the support of her family.

“I have more time to focus on the goal of what we are going towards,” Fowler said, adding that she does not regret the sacrifice.

“It gives me more time to help at home. It gives me more time to be with my little girl and in regards to training it helps to build me more.”

Fowler attributes her confidence and self-belief to her mother. She also spent a lot of her time as a child taking care of her eight-year-old younger sister.

“I have to give all of that to my mother because from I was young she taught me to stand on my own. She taught me to take care; I learnt how to manage a household. You can learn how not to make mistakes that you see people around you making. That’s what helped me to develop,” she stated.

As Fowler, who represents Waulgrovians in the local league competitions, prepares for next month’s World Netball Championships (WNC) in Singapore, she is focussed on the task ahead.

“My personal goal is to make sure I have my teammates’ back at all costs. But I have to fulfil my end of the bargain in order to have their back… to shoot all goals that come down to me and to contest any that have to be turned back.”