IMAGINE hearing a packed arena chanting your name and willing you to take to the stage.

For Simone Forbes, these are the moments she lived for in the black, green, and gold of Jamaica. In a splendid 13-year career as a Sunshine Girl, she has two Netball World Cup appearances under her belt.

Forbes played at the 2003 World Netball Championship (World Cup) in Kingston, Jamaica, during which the Sunshine Girls finished third behind winners New Zealand and runners-up Australia. She then captained the Sunshine Girls to another third-place finish at the 2007 World Netball Championship in Auckland, New Zealand, behind champions Australia and runners-up New Zealand.

Forbes, who had also represented Jamaica at three Commonwealth Games in 2002, 2006, and 2010, when she was the flag bearer, said she treasured every moment spent playing in a World Cup.

“Anytime I play for my country it is an out of this world experience, and I don’t think I can explain it to anyone,” Forbes told the Jamaica Observer.

“When you have on your Jamaican colours and the anthem is being played I never tried to explain it, because I can’t. It is just a real feeling. You are doing something you love; you are representing yourself; you are representing two point how much million people back at home; and then the anthem is being played — and it always gets you because it is what it is,” continued Forbes.

Forbes, who was appointed captain of the Sunshine Girls team in 2007 and served in that capacity until her retirement in 2011, said representing the country is a privilege and wishes that every young girl could have or get the experience to do it because it is second to none.

“And so when these ladies are in their colours and representing Jamaica, I know this is how they feel.

“The World Cup is the event for netball. It is not a series where you are playing against another team; it is countries against other countries and you just have the experience of being there with your team, your teammates, and experiencing the countries that you are in while playing for your own country.

“Trust me, it is not something any player would be able to do. I know I couldn’t because of what it meant to me, but it is really a surreal moment every time,” explained the 41-year-old Forbes who began playing netball for Jamaica in 1998 at the under-21 level before making her debut with the senior Sunshine Girls the following year.

The 5ft, 8in Forbes said that standing on the podium at both the 2003 and 2007 World Netball Championships felt like the Sunshine Girls had won gold.

“Now you are on the podium, and your flag is being hoisted. Jamaica is literally a little dot on the world map compared to the other top three countries — which are England, Australia, and New Zealand — and whenever we spoil the mix (Jamaica is always in the mix) and so for me, it does not matter which medal it is. It feels like gold.

“I am winning it; and I am winning it not just for myself but with my teammates for my country. And I am on the podium and looking at my flag and so it is always that experience that I really wish each and every young girl to have because it is second to none.

“Worse, when you get the medal and you’re on the podium and your anthem is playing, it sometimes feels like you have people behind you, the country, even if they’re not there — that’s just how it feels for me.

“So I have to represent myself with all these people depending on me but I am built that way for the pressure. I relished those moments, as I can handle pressure and I like feeling it,” Forbes said.