JAMAICA’s world number three ranked Sunshine Girls left the island yesterday for the Fast5 World Netball Series in Auckland, New Zealand from November 9-11.

The squad, which is sponsored by Best Dressed Foods and Gilbert, will be captained by Nadine Bryan and includes Shantal Slater, Vangelee Williams, Jhaniele Fowler, Kimone Tulloch, Shameera Sterling, Patricia McCalla, Malysha Kelly, Anna Kay Griffiths and Sasha Gay Lynch.

The management team includes Oberon Pitterson-Nattie, head coach; Marvette Anderson, assistant coach; Wendi Peart, physiotherapist; Antoinette Irons, team manager; and Marva Bernard, head of delegation.

Pitterson-Nattie, Bryan and Bernard all expressed optimism when quizzed about the team’s expected performance in the series.

Only two trophies will be handed out to the top two teams. The Fast5 format sees only five netballers on court during the game. The quarters are six minutes in length instead of 10 as in the longer version of the game. Additionally, substitutions are made without stopping the match.