Based on the Sunshine Girls’ historic silver medal performance at last year’s Commonwealth Games, former player of the game Stacian Facey says it would be of no surprise if the senior netball team comes home with a medal from the 2023 Vitality Netball World Cup later this year.

The Netball World Cup is a quadrennial international netball world championship organised by World Netball, inaugurated in 1963. The Netball World Cup will be held in Cape Town, South Africa, from July 28–August 6 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), with 16 of the world’s top netball nations, including the hosts South Africa, competing.

Facey said with the talent in the current group of players, she thinks they are more than capable to break the 16-year drought of not medalling at the World Cup.

“I think that these girls can win the gold medal,” Facey told the Jamaica Observer. “They did extremely well last year at the Commonwealth Games. I was so proud of being here watching and cheering that I lost my voice. I know that they can do it,” Facey added.

The Sunshine Girls lost the final at the Commonwealth Games in England 55-51 to Australia. Facey said that once the girls continue on their recent path, they should be okay.

“If they continue with the same work ethic they had in the Commonwealth Games and add more to that, definitely, I think that they will be in the finals. I am super proud of them, and I know if they continue down that same path, they will definitely be in the finals. And if they are in the finals, they are going to win, and I can promise you that,” affirmed Facey.

Jamaica is drawn in Pool C alongside host nation South Africa, Sri Lanka, and Wales.

“In the group stages, I think South Africa will be their biggest competition.

“I don’t want them to take anything lightly; they are going in there, and they are going to work on their weaknesses in the easy matches, but when they get to places like South Africa, they will definitely put on a show for sure.

“They just have to be consistent with their playing and continue with that same work ethic, and they will be fine. So far, they are doing well, some minor errors, and those kinds of errors can be fixed. Keep their heads in the game, and they will definitely be in the finals or win the World Cup and make history again,” Facey said.