(Turn: Netballers not taking threats on social media lightly)

BY SHERDON COWAN

Observer staff reporter

cowans@jamaicaobserver.com

Amidst the disappointment of their failed Gold Rush Down Under campaign, Jamaica’s Sunshine Girls were also left annoyed over threats aimed at them on social media following their fourth-place finish at the recently concluded Netball World Cup.

The team arrived in the island on Monday evening from Sydney, Australia, showing signs of exhaustion after failing to garner a medal in what was expected to be a promising campaign.

However, in a virtual repeat of the last World Cup four years ago, Jamaica managed to reach the semi-finals where they were beaten 67-56 by reigning and eventual champions, Australia.

The Jamaicans later slumped to a 44-66 defeat to their number three ranked rivals England, in the bronze-medal match at the Allphones Arena on Sunday.

And if failing to gain a medal was not enough for the Sunshine Girls to deal with, they also had to defy a number of threats and harsh comments hurled at them by some Jamaican supporters.

President of Netball Jamaica Marva Bernard was left fuming about the remarks which she revealed came from a number of persons known to the Sunshine Girls team.

And although reluctant to say much about the threats, Bernard did reveal that the threats will not be taken lightly regardless of the manner in which they were posted.

“I know my people will be happy with one colour medal and some would respect a second or a third, but the tremendous outpouring of support for these ladies have come. But one of the biggest disappointments I feel, and these ladies (players) feel, is that people have posted things on social media threatening them,” Bernard told journalists shortly after arriving at the Norman Manley International Airport.

“When you are that far from home doing your best and knowing how our people are, you don’t know when you should take these threats lightly or not. There were some awful things posted on social media and it reflected so badly on us as a people, because our social media page is very strong in Australia, New Zealand and England.

“This is what we have to deal with and they gave it their all these ladies have to be respected and the negativity and bile that came at some of these girls were hard to take.”‘ she added.

In combating the comments, Bernard pointed out that the girls gave a good account of themselves having to play four games consecutively while nursing injuries.

“These ladies played their hearts out in Australia…. they took it to New Zealand; they took it to Australia and the draw was treacherous. I think the board of the INF (International Netball Federation) is going to disband a draw like this for the world tournament in 2019, but we left here fourth we came back fourth — it is not what proud Jamaicans want, but I couldn’t ask more of these ladies.

“They have come back with injuries… they had injuries down there we didn’t want you to talk about, because we are not going to play the blame game and they certainly went out there and gave it their all. We are disappointed but we live to fight another day because we are proud Jamaicans,” she explained.

The Jamaicans seemed more inclined to dominate the first two quarters of their encounters, but lacked stamina and consistency in maintaining possession of the ball in the second stanza which resulted in the losses.

“I think they just didn’t have enough gas in the tank to finish the job against England, but we will sit with them and find out in greater detail why. We didn’t win a medal, but we left people in Australia very proud of our efforts and even though we did not do what we wanted people were still very proud of us,” Bernard noted.

“The girls have taken it very badly; they are resilient and they knew that we left here on a mission wanting to win. It didn’t happen and we are disappointed but we surely gave a good account of ourselves and people in Australia and New Zealand want to play us more often now, so it is not all bad but, yes we are disappointed because we went there to win,” she continued.

Finally, Bernard outlined that the coaches and the general manager will go back to the drawing board to chart a new four-year course for 2019.

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Members of the Sunshine Girls team pose for pictures with team mascot Mr Chicken (left) and marketing manager Avadaugn Sinclair shortly after the team’s arrival at the Norman Manley International Airport on Monday night.

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President of Netball Jamaica Marva Bernard addressing members of the media shortly after the team’s arrival at the Norman Manley International Airport on Monday night.

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Sunshine Girl Stacian Facey as she arrived at the Norman Manley International Airport on Monday night.

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President of Netball Jamaica Marva Bernard (centre), is greeted by marketing Manager of Best Dressed Chicken Avadaugn Sinclair and team mascot Mr Chicken.