Jamaica’s senior netball player Shimona Nelson-Jok has admitted she is a bit nervous ahead of playing in her second international home series for the Sunshine Girls against South Africa later this month.

However, she is quietly confident she will deliver an excellent performance in the three-Test series, with matches scheduled for January 18, 22, and 25 at the National Indoor Sports Centre.

Nelson, who last represented the Sunshine Girls at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, was called up due to the absence of first-choice shooters Jhaniele Fowler and Romelda Aiken, both unavailable for personal reasons.

Standing at an imposing six feet and five inches, Nelson-Jok expressed her determination to make an impact in the series and lead the Sunshine Girls to victory over the Proteas.

“Of course, there are nerves because, as you know, you never really get used to playing in front of a crowd, especially if it is the first time playing at home in a long time,” said Nelson-Jok. “I feel like I will definitely take it with a grain of salt. I am nervous, but I know that I can go out there and deliver on the job.”

“I am feeling okay, but it is a great opportunity to step up to the plate, seeing that I am required to and I am not taking anything for granted,” she added.

Nelson-Jok, who plays for the Melbourne Mavericks in the Australian Suncorp Super Netball League, emphasised that the series will be a challenging encounter. She is preparing herself mentally and physically for any obstacles the South Africans may present.

“Personally, I don’t feel pressure at the moment because I feel like my main focus is being prepared for the series and I feel like that is the most important thing. But if there is pressure, my preparations leading into the series will help me get rid of that pressure if or when it arises. My main focus is getting ready for the series more than anything else,” Nelson-Jok stated.

The 26-year-old, a former Meadowbrook High and Holy Childhood student, highlighted that this series offers her a chance to showcase her talent in front of her home fans.

“I don’t feel that it is an opportunity to take my spot in the team because each and every player can be replaced. I think it is an opportunity for me to build a great relationship with the team and also the girls. It has been a while since I have been part of the programme, but it is a great opportunity to be injected back into it and feel what it is like to be in the Jamaican team again,” Nelson-Jok pointed out.

“I’m a right-handed shooter and I do have a bit of variety in my goal-shooting skills. As you know, we all have different styles of play, and I offer something different from Jhaniele and Romelda. It’s a great opportunity to see how well we can gel and bond with our different styles of play to get over the line in this series,” she added.

The Sunshine Girls are currently ranked third in the world, three places above South Africa. Despite this, Nelson-Jok stressed that they will not underestimate their opponents.

“We are definitely not taking South Africa for granted,” she said. “I think our main focus is on us and what we want to execute out there while being mindful that South Africa can be a strong team. They will come out firing, so we have to ensure that once they do, we know how to manoeuvre, not crumble in the moment, maintain communication, stay patient, execute our game plan, and cross that line.”

“South Africa will not give us that win; we will have to grind for it. And we’re not giving South Africa the win either—they will have to grind for it as well,” Nelson-Jok declared.