Netball Jamaica President Karen Rosen Baugh is calling on corporate Jamaica to support the national Under-21 Sunshine Girls as they prepare to compete in the 2025 Netball World Youth Cup (NWYC) in Gibraltar.

Funding has been secured for 12 players, but the organisation requires approximately $6 million to send the entire 15-member squad.

The tournament is to take place from September 19 to 28 in two main competition venues in Gibraltar – The Tercentenary Sports Hall and Europa Sports Park, which was recently upgraded for the 2019 Island Games.

“We are still trying to solicit funds to make sure all 15 girls go, as right now, we are pretty secured about the 12,” Rosen Baugh told the Jamaica Observer.

“The donation from Supreme Ventures Limited Foundation and National Housing Trust came in and helped us as well, but we are still out there trying to make sure that the full squad goes and that they have all the support they need.

“We still need another five or six million to send all 15 girls to the World Cup. Jamaica has a rich history with the Under-21 Netball World Youth Cup. We have gone as high as winning a silver medal,” the netball boss said.

“The team has worked very hard, and I see their progress over the couple of months; they are playing very well, and so we know that they are going to represent us well, no matter where they fall. They are going to get on the podium, but no matter what happens, we know that they are going to represent us well,” Rosen Baugh stated.

She emphasised the importance of corporate support for the team’s success.

“It really is important that we get support from corporate Jamaica, and we thank everyone who has supported us so far, and we are open to more support, so please give us a call at Netball Jamaica,” she noted.

Meanwhile, Nardia Hanson, assistant coach for the Under-21 Sunshine Girls, is thrilled with the team’s progress as they prepare for the World Cup.

“We are doing pretty well, I mean given the couple months that we started, we have seen the girls growing, improving each game. We did a simulation for one entire week, and I mean I commend the girls, they stuck to the task, they have been in camp, and they are really working hard,” Hanson said after the young Sunshine Girls defeated a men’s team 42-40 in a practice game at the National Indoor Sports Centre on Sunday.

While the team has shown significant improvement, Hanson identifies areas that need refinement.

“In our attack, we still need to be a little bit more clinical, more patient around the circle, and with the shooters, we are going to work [more] on their accuracy. Other than that, we are doing well,” she told the Observer.

With the team set to depart the island on September 10 for the competition, Hanson is confident in their abilities.

“We are going down there to get first place. I mean, the girls are getting fitter, they are working, we are doing a lot of core work with them, and so their fitness level is where we want them going into the competition,” she affirmed.

Hanson expects the team to give it their all and make Jamaica proud.

“I am expecting the girls just to go down there and give it their all. They are new players, and once they reach on the world scene, you know there will be jitters and stuff like that, but I am expecting them to be a little nervous, but as soon as they get that butterfly out at game one, I am expecting them to do well,” explained Hanson.

HANSON… in our attack, we still need to be a little bit more clinical, more patient around the circle, and with the shooters, we are going to work [more] on their accuracy (Photo: Naphtali Junior)

ROSEN BAUGH… we are still out there trying to make sure that the full squad goes (Photo: Collin Reid)

Jamaica’s English-born player Tori Akinrinlola (left) vies for the ball against a men’s team opponent during a practice game at the National Indoor Sports Centre on Sunday. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)