After more than a four-year absence, the Jamaica Netball (NJ) Seprod Elite League Netball competition is scheduled to tip off this evening with the playing of two matches at the National Indoor Sports Centre.

The Elite League, Jamaica’s top netball competition, was last contested in 2019. Its absence has been due to the COVID-19 pandemic coupled with lack of sponsorship.

Four teams are down to contest this year’s championships, which is to run for eight weeks. The participating teams are Kingston Hummingbirds, Manchester Spurs, St Ann Orchids and St Catherine Racers. Seprod has pumped $4 million into the sponsorship of the league.

In the opening match, the Orchids will take on the Hummingbirds at 6:00 pm before the Spurs battle the Racers at 8:00 pm.

Simone Forbes, first vice-president of NJ, said she is delighted that the competition is finally back on.

“We are truly excited to have it back after more than the three years that we haven’t had it,” said Forbes.

“We are eternally grateful to the sponsors Seprod and Marathon Insurance Brokers who made it happen and, of course, there are other sponsors who have also come on board with us,” she said.

“The players are very excited and happy that the league is on this year and are hoping that we will continue on this path for years to come.

“The competition is also an opportunity for the players to earn playing in this league and also getting themselves [prepared] for this year’s Netball World Cup tournament in Cape Town, South Africa, in July,” Forbes said.

Shanice Beckford, the captain of the Spurs team and a vice-captain of Jamaica’s Sunshine Girls, said she is looking forward to the start of the league.

“The Sunshine Girls are preparing for this year’s World Championship, so this league will definitely help the local-based players in our preparations for the World Championship, in terms of getting playing time on court,” said Beckford.