As Netball Jamaica (NJ) welcomed the much-needed sponsorship from Seprod Group to help offset the cost of sending the Sunshine Girls to the 2023 Netball World Cup, its president Tricia Robinson used the opportunity to urge the wider Jamaican public to support the movement.

The 16th staging of the Netball World Cup, the premier competition in international netball, will be held from Friday, July 28 to Sunday, August 6 at the International Convention Centre in Cape Town, South Africa.

Seprod, the latest company to come on-board the World Cup campaign, has committed a total of $15,123,000 to Netball Jamaica. The announcement was made during a press conference held at the National Indoor Sports Centre (NISC) on Wednesday.

The sponsorship will offset the costs associated with the preparation for the games, as the funding will be used to provide nutrition and a monthly stipend for the coaches, players, medical staff, and support team.

The Government of Jamaica, through the Sports Development Foundation (SDF), has pledged $10 million towards the the girls Netball World Cup campaign and to set up an insurance programme for the players.

Sports minister Olivia “Babsy” Grange said that details of the insurance programme will follow soon.

“Netball Jamaica is extremely grateful that Seprod has come on-board to support the Sunshine Girls with nutrition and salary packages. We haven’t had this in a long time for the ladies, and we are extremely grateful. The girls can now focus on the medal that they will be taking back to Jamaica after the World Cup,” Robinson told the Jamaica Observer.

“So you know our budget is about $50 million to take us to the World Cup and we are grateful to our partners Wray & Nephew, our lead sponsor Beryllium, the National Baking Company, and now Seprod [is] on-board. We are a little bit off and so this month is going to be significant for us because we will be launching our fund-raising campaign.

“Looking at what it is that we need to get done — the requisite fees, the airfare, and so we welcome everybody on-board whilst we have gotten the sponsorship from our partners, you know training is a daily thing, expenses happen daily, and so specific funding for the World Cup itself is a different line item in our budget. And so we are short on that, and we are asking the public to assist us in that area, but we will be doing our fund-raising launch, and we will let the public know exactly where we are,” added the president.

Robinson said that she is hoping that the Sunshine Girls will better their silver medal triumph that they won at last year’s Commonwealth Games at the World Cup later this year.

“I am humbled, really; it is an honour to see the girls come in to train day in and day out, and it is painful when they have injuries, and you are wondering if they are going to make it. And they played through the pain, and you know, I can’t help but say that they play without pay, and just to put on the black, green, and gold is a humbling experience for them, and not only is it humbling, it is a joyful experience for them.

“They always played with pride; they play with passion. And so going into the Netball World Cup as president, I am extremely proud of them, and I ask that they not repeat the Commonwealth Games performance but that they better that performance,” Robinson said.

In addition to the sponsorship, Seprod — through its Supligen, Delight, and Pronto Porridge Mix brands — will be the title sponsor for the 2023 Elite Netball League, which is set to get underway on Friday, March 10 at the NISC.

Marilyn Golding-Anderson, head of supply chain at Seprod Group, spoke about her company’s commitment to Netball Jamaica.

“Seprod has always been very integral in the development of sports in Jamaica, and today is just a testament to that journey. We have watched the Sunshine Girls consistently keep the Jamaica flag flying high, and we are extremely proud of them as they are about to take on another major feat, the 2023 Netball World Cup in South Africa, and we have no doubt that they are up to the task.

“They have issued the call for support, and the Seprod Group has responded without reservation. We are looking forward to partnering with Netball Jamaica, and we wish the girls all the best,” Golding-Anderson said.

Also during the press conference, the 30-woman World Cup training squad was announced, as follows.

Training squad: Maylsha Kelly; Abbeygail Linton; Kimone Shaw; Paula Ann Burton; Chenika Jones; Tavonee Bailey; Nicole Dixon- Rochester; Khadijah Williams; Crystal Plummer; Abigale Sutherland; Quannia Walker; Theresa Beckford; Chamoi Manahan; Shanice Beckford; Rebekah Robinson; Simone Gordon; Odeacha Johnson; Shadine Bartley; Tracey Ann Francis; Mischa Creary; Jhaniele Fowler; Romelda Aiken-George; Shiona Nelson; Jodi Ann Ward; Kadie Ann Dehaney; Latanya Wilson; Shamera Sterling; Adean Thomas; and Roxonne McLean.