DESPITE serious financial challenges, the Jamaica Inter-Collegiate Sports Association (JISA) will send a team on an historic trip to the World University Netball Championship in Cape Town, South Africa.

This was disclosed yesterday morning as the players were presented at a media launch at The Mico University College. The team departs on June 26 and returns on July 11.

The Jamaican contingent will comprise 17, including 12 players and five officials. Six of the players are members of the current Sunshine Girls outfit, while the others have represented the country at age-group levels.

The squad of 30 players has been in training since January and has now been reduced to 12, according to head coach and Intercol netball chairperson Dr Paula Daley-Morris.

Mico University president Professor Claude Packer, in welcoming the players — with seven being students at his institution — said: “Mico University College some years ago decided to invest in sports as this develops positive values and attitude for life’s journey in the fulfilment of excellence.

“Teachers play a significant role in sports as it creates cultural bridges for people to understand each other, which leads to discipline of practice for excellence, unifies people and leads to proper décorum in bridging cultural bridges.”

Ventley Brown, Intercol’s first-vice president said netball is the most successful team sport in Jamaica, despite not getting the support needed.

The institutions, he pointed out, have provided the academic, nutritional and training support, and this is a significant milestone in the history of local netball and JISA.

He commended the players, institutions, sponsors and coaches and appealed to Corporate Jamaica to assist the team in its venture.

“We’re woefully short on funds to send the team off, but they are going despite all the odds,” he said.

Meanwhile, Jamaica Netball Association (JNA) president Marva Bernard praised JISA on this bold move as the association has never before taken a team to South Africa due to the costs and lack of sponsorship.

“This is an historic occasion and it’s very important for netball to be seen. Six of the girls are members of the Sunshine Girls who are not able to be here, and the others have passed through other levels of the national programme,” she said.

“You’re representing your country and don’t ever forget that; not yourselves,” she exhorted the players.

“When you step on that court, it’s Jamaica, and you… must not… lose focus for a second because your cause is to bring glory to the country,” she said.

Coach for the team, Dr Daley-Morris, appealed for support and commended the sponsors, pointing out the harsh economic climate and the shortfalls, but maintained that the team will still travel as “they have placed country before self”.

Team captain Trishelle Williams expressed confident in the impending venture.

“We’re grateful for this opportunity and we’re going to make this a memorable occasion as we celebrate Jamaica 50. We’re in top shape; we’ve worked hard and we’re going to do it,” she said.

Sponsors include Sports Development Foundation, Gilbert Netball, Supreme Ventures, Western Sports, Wynlee Sportswear, Jamaica Netball Association, University of the West Indies, Mona, The Mico University College, University of Technology, Jamaica, GC Foster College, Hi-Lyte Sport Drink, and Chang’s Catering.