Girls ‘cautiously confident’ ahead of Fast5 series

JAMAICA’S Sunshine Girls will bow into action at the Fast5 Netball World Series 2024 in New Zealand when they take on the home team at the Christchurch Wolfbrook Arena at 7:15 p.m. (Jamaica time) in what is their first of three matches on the opening day of the two-day competition.

Six nations will compete in this year’s women’s event – Australia, England, New Zealand, Jamaica, South Africa and Uganda. In Fast5 netball, teams are made up of five players, two less than the usual seven. The games are also shorter, with matches split into four six-minute quarters.

Jamaica’s second match of the day (Saturday in New Zealand) is against England at 9:30 p.m., and they will close out the day against South Africa at 1:30 a.m. Saturday, Jamaica time.

Dalton Hinds, one of two coaches with the Jamaica team, is confident they will do well at the tournament where Australia are defending champions after winning back-to-back titles a year ago.

“Our aim is to win the Fast5 Netball World Series for the first time, worst case is a podium finish,” said Hinds. The Sunshine Girls have had two second- and three third-place finishes in the past at the tournament.

The Jamaican squad is a very inexperienced one. Only Kimone Shaw and Amanda Pinkney have played at the tournament in the past, but Hinds said the girls remain confident of doing well.

“Jamaica’s Girls have the least experience in the tournament but the ladies are not daunted, and are cautiously confident that, once they execute effectively, they should be a force to be reckoned with, and the vibes in the team is very good,” Hinds said.

The Jamaica team has played two practice matches in New Zealand ahead of the start of the tournament and Hinds thinks this was very good for the team.

“We had practice matches Tuesday against the Australian and South African male teams, who are here for the men’s competition, and those matches have lifted our confidence going into the weekend,” Hinds said.