A lot has been written and said about the growth of Jamaica’s senior women’s netball team after recent accomplishments which exceeded the expectations of many.

Going into the 2023 Vitality Netball World Cup — beginning Friday in Cape Town, South Africa — the 16th staging of the sport’s premier international tournament, which is contested every four years, the anticipation for more success is at fever pitch.

The Sunshine Girls’ historic silver medal at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England last August would have been more than enough to make them one of the tournament’s medal favourites.

As if that weren’t enough for this group of players, consider the recent performances of captain Jhaniele Fowler, Romelda Aiken-George, Shamera Sterling, Latanya Wilson, and Shimona Nelson in the Australia’s top netball league, as well as the instrumental efforts of Rebekah Robinson, Crystal Plummer, Abigail Sutherland, Adean Thomas, and Kimone Shaw in mining gold at the Central American and Caribbean Games (CAC) Games in El Salvador.

These achievements have written a fresh new chapter in Jamaican netball history, putting a gold medal at the World Cup within reach.

The Sunshine Girls haven’t won a medal since taking bronze at the 2007 World Cup, and according to Head Coach Connie Francis, there’s no pressure going into the competition because the players are totally focused and ready to attack the courts at full speed.

“This is arguably the best team that I have had the privilege to coach. I mean, there is no pressure going into the tournament only self-belief in this group of ladies. They are backing themselves especially with the talent in team to get a medal,” Francis told the Jamaica Observer.

“The ladies are mentally and physical prepared. They are locked into doing something special in this tournament. They are extended family that are coming together to achieve a medal,” Francis further stated.

The Jamaicans, presently rated fourth in the world, are in Pool C with Sri Lanka, Wales, and host country South Africa.

The Sunshine Girls, who have already touched many lives across the globe, will have the opportunity to touch a few more when they open their Pool C game against Sri Lanka on Friday.

“Training has been very productive. I mean, the ladies have worked out the kinks and the different combinations and are connecting nicely. The Sunshine Girls are ready for this,” Francis said.

“We don’t know much about the Sri Lankans but at this moment I’m pulling up some games that they played during this year… they can’t be taken lightly.

“They will give the coaches an opportunity to set goals for the team to achieve and they would want to create good moments against us to build on but it should be smooth sailing for us,” Francis explained.

When asked about the line-up for the game, Francis was guarded in her response.

“Too early to call the starting line-up; the coaches are working on some more combinations. We want to make everything perfect,” Francis said.

To round up the preliminaries, the Jamaicans will meet Wales on Saturday and South Africa on Sunday.

“We’ve been playing together for about 10 years, so I believe we have the experience, and the girls are eager to compete. I believe now is the time for these girls to return home with a medal because it has been 16 years,” she said.

World Cup matches are scheduled to be staged at the International Convention Centre, with the final set for August 6.

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.