CONNIE Francis might not want to jump the gun, but with less than two weeks until the Netball World Cup the Jamaica senior team coach says the Sunshine Girls are ready to showcase their skills and talent on the global stage.

The 2023 Vitality Netball World Cup will be the 16th staging of the premier competition in international netball. It is to be held from July 28 to August 6 at the International Convention Centre in Cape Town, South Africa.

Francis is satisfied with the team’s chemistry as they approach the last phase of preparation before the global extravaganza.

“When the tournament begins, the proof will be in the pudding. We came to South Africa and went straight into camp because everyone else is having a camp and everyone else is stepping up in preparation for the World Cup — and we are as well,” Francis told the Jamaica Observer.

“We’ve gathered everyone here in South Africa and are working on synergy. They have no issue, [they have been] a cheerful bunch. I don’t believe there will be any synergy issues because they have been playing together for a long time. When they go away and come back together, it’s as if they never left,” Francis continued.

Francis, an outstanding former national player, believes the Sunshine Girls have the drive, aptitude, and capability to overcome the country’s 16-year skid without a medal.

“The maturity in the team is something I really admire because it means you’ve been there, done that, lost some close ones, and been out of medal contentions.

“Now these girls are really hungry, and I know it’s going to be really tough — especially playing South Africa in South Africa — but I can tell you that they are just ready to show the world what they are capable of doing,” Francis added.

The Jamaicans are to play Sri Lanka in the Pool C preliminary rounds on Friday, July 28, before facing Wales the next day and closing out the pool to host South Africa on Sunday, July 30.

“The mood in the camp is very good; they [players] have gelled well. The maturity in the team is quite evident in the sense of maturity, meaning that they have been playing at this level for more than 10 years together so they know what has been asked of them and I think they are really ready to work as a unit.

“As I said, they are a very happy bunch. They are going to work as a team to ensure that we can make a podium finish,” Francis said.

Squad – Jhaniele Fowler (captain), Romelda Aiken, Shamera Sterling, Shimona Nelson, Kadie-Ann Dehaney, Jodiann Ward, Latanya Wilson, Shanice Beckford, Rebekah Robinson, Khadijah Williams, Nicole Dixon-Rochester, Adean Thomas, Crystal Plummer, Kimone Shaw and Abigail Sutherland

— Ruddy Allen