Subscribe Login
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup 2022
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup 2022
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
  • Home
  • News
    • International News
  • Latest
  • Business
    • Business Bites
  • Cartoon
  • Games
  • Food Awards
  • Health
  • Entertainment
    • Bookends
  • Regional
  • Sports
    • Sports
    • World Cup
    • World Champs
    • Olympics
  • All Woman
  • Career & Education
  • Environment
  • Webinars
  • More
    • Football
    • Elections
    • Letters
    • Advertorial
    • Columns
    • Editorial
    • Supplements
  • Epaper
  • Classifieds
  • Design Week
Netball, Sports
BY SHERDON COWAN Observer staff reporter  
August 31, 2015

Coach Reynolds defends under-fire Sunshine Girls

WITH the Sunshine Girls once again failing to overhaul their top three rivals, the strategy and overall competence of the coaching staff led by Australian Jill McIntosh has been called into question.

But head coach Minneth Reynolds has moved to head off claims that the squad was short on depth and a number of players were overused at the recently concluded tournament in Sydney, Australia.

She pointed out that the players formed one of the best teams to represent Jamaica at a major championship.

“We had some very good games, and some not so good games, at crucial times which cost us not to medal in this tournament. But despite the loss we had some very good patches of play throughout and it is just the control and consistency that let us down at times,” Reynolds said while speaking to reporters at the Norman Manley International Airport recently.

“We took 12 girls with us and at any given time any of those 12 girls can represent us and I think those 12 girls have given good accounts of themselves despite the negatives that you have heard. We used all 12 girls in most of our games, but we had some very tough games where we had to use the stronger team, so it is not that some girls were over played and some were underplayed,” she explained.

The Sunshine Girls started their campaign with a comprehensive 90-44 win over 13th-ranked Samoa, but went down 50-54 to England in their subsequent game.

They returned a day later and asserted their dominance over 11th-ranked Scotland with a 71-24 win, but again failed to maintain a consistent run as they suffered a 48-55 loss to New Zealand in the second round.

However, the Girls made all in a 59-47 win over Uganda, before clinching a gutsy 63-62 win over number five-ranked Malawi to advance to the semi-finals.

And like it was in the last World Cup four years ago, Jamaica failed to surpass the semi-final stage after going down 56-67 to reigning and eventual champions, Australia.

Jamaica finished fourth when they were beaten 66-44 by rivals England in the bronze medal game at the Allphones Arena.

During that encounter, a number of changes were made in the final quarter which commentators described as questionable tactics. However, Reynolds explained that the coaching staff made the rotations in a desperate attempt to cop a medal.

“We played the way how we trained… we have always been training with rotation because if something is not working there is always the opportunity to fix it. We wanted a medal so that constant changing that you saw on court was something that we had to do as a coaching staff.

“It was all or nothing because that was the last medal up for grabs and anything that could possibly give us the medal we tried it,” she declared.

Having to contest a number of games in a short period of time, the Jamaicans at times displayed signs of fatigue, and had to contend with a few injuries and sore muscles prior to their semi-final contest.

Goal-attack Shanice Beckford, who was voted Jamaica’s top performer, played with a lingering hamstring injury and Nicole Dixon, who marshalled centre court, had a calf injury, while goal-defence Stacian Facey injured her knee.

“They were a strong group of girls that went to Australia; I am not going to be dwelling on the negative because these girls worked long and hard. It is rather disappointing that we didn’t get a medal, but at the end of the day it is not to dwell so much on what we did not get, it is what we learnt from it and what we can build on,” Reynolds noted.

“These girls remained confident right throughout to the end, and as I said, there is a lot of positives to take from this campaign. We are down, but certainly not out; we can only live and learn from this experience.

“Yes, we wanted a medal, the entire Jamaica wanted a medal (but) it didn’t happen this time. There is always another opportunity and we will be going back to see what we could have done differently to ensure that next time around we will be in a better position to medal,” she assured.

{"website":"website"}{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
img img
0 Comments · Make a comment

ALSO ON JAMAICA OBSERVER

JAAA names powerful team for World Relays
Latest News, Sports
JAAA names powerful team for World Relays
April 15, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — World Athletics Championships medallists Oblique Seville, Kishane Thompson and Tina Clayton have been included in a powerful team ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
ODPEM reports more than $1.4 b in donations following passage of Hurricane Melissa
Latest News, News
ODPEM reports more than $1.4 b in donations following passage of Hurricane Melissa
April 15, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) is reporting that it has received more than $1.4 billion in d...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
In pictures: Another glimpse at Sunrise Breakfast Party
Entertainment, Latest News, Lifestyle
In pictures: Another glimpse at Sunrise Breakfast Party
April 15, 2026
Between the pulsating rhythms and live performances, Sunnation's Sunrise Breakfast Party offered the perfect prelude to the Carnival Sunday madness. W...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
YouTube suspends pro-Iran channel posting Lego-style clips mocking Trump
International News, Latest News
YouTube suspends pro-Iran channel posting Lego-style clips mocking Trump
April 15, 2026
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — YouTube has terminated a channel belonging to a pro-Iran group producing viral Lego-themed AI videos that ridicule U...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
The White Lotus starts filming season 4 in France
International News, Latest News
The White Lotus starts filming season 4 in France
April 15, 2026
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — The highly anticipated fourth season of "The White Lotus" has begun filming on the French Riviera, HBO announced We...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Police fast-track shooting incident involving Jaii Frais
Latest News, News
Police fast-track shooting incident involving Jaii Frais
April 15, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Police say investigations are being fast-tracked into Sunday night’s shooting at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre, as popul...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Forex: $159.27 to one US dollar
Latest News
Forex: $159.27 to one US dollar
April 15, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — The United States (US) dollar on Wednesday, April 15, ended trading at $159.27 down 5 cents, according to the Bank of Jamaica’s da...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Jason Pitter’s rise to fame
Latest News, Sports
Jason Pitter’s rise to fame
April 15, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica—Rising star Jason Pitter is a coach’s dream, having moved his 400m personal best from 50 seconds to 45 seconds in two years. The 15-...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
❮ ❯

Polls

HOUSE RULES

  1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper; email addresses will not be published.
  2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.
  3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.
  4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.
  5. Please don't use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed: advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.
  6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.
  7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

Recent Posts

Archives

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Tweets

Polls

Recent Posts

Archives

Logo Jamaica Observer
Breaking news from the premier Jamaican newspaper, the Jamaica Observer. Follow Jamaican news online for free and stay informed on what's happening in the Caribbean
Featured Tags
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Health
  • Auto
  • Business
  • Letters
  • Page2
  • Football
Categories
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
Ads
img
Jamaica Observer, © All Rights Reserved
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • RSS Feeds
  • Feedback
  • Privacy Policy
  • Editorial Code of Conduct