Financial challenges won’t slow young Sunshine Girls – NJ boss

PRESIDENT OF Netball Jamaica (NJ), Karen Baugh, says the national Under-21 team remains focused and confident of doing well at this year’s Netball World Youth Cup, despite ongoing financial challenges.

The Jamaicans are scheduled to depart on September 11 for the championships, which will be held in Gibraltar from September 19-28. However, Baugh said that the association is still seeking an additional $5 million in sponsorship to ensure the team travels with its full complement of players.

“I am still hopeful that within the next few days we will secure that additional support to do everything that needs to be done for the under-21s to be at their optimum at this tournament, just like the other 10 teams that are going to be there,” Baugh said.

“I answer my phone every time it rings, and so I am hopeful it is that call. I have been doing a lot of outreach, and hopefully, we will get there with the required funds,” she added.

Baugh also noted that one of the key areas at risk is ensuring that all 15 selected players, including reserves, travel with the squad.

“The way that this will affect us is that we want to get the reserves there. The reserves going there is not just for them to get a trip, it is part of the preparations for the whole team. When the team is there, they have another week of preparation,” she said.

“It is very important that Jamaica has their 15-selected players because the coach will be able to work and assess these players ahead of the championships. The coach wants to have two full teams to continue training and working through various strategies,” she explained.

Baugh also underlined that the under-21 programme serves as a critical pathway for players transitioning to the senior Sunshine Girls.

“This is the next set of the Sunshine Girls coming through, because when they leave the under-21 team some may go into the senior team, and some may already be ready now. So it is important that we get all of them there. “However, if we don’t get the 15, then we will work with the 12, and we are not giving up until the last day that we are ready to go,” she said.

The last Youth World Cup was held eight years ago in Botswana, where Jamaica finished a disappointing fifth. Baugh, however, believes the current team has been well prepared and is ready to challenge for a place on the podium.

“I am confident that we will do well, and I have to be confident to let them know that we are behind them and that their training has not been in vain,” she said.

“We have always done well, and doing well does not necessarily mean we have to be on top of the podium it means that we are performing at the very best we can, based on the training the girls have received. If they get to the podium then hallelujah, and so, yes, we are expecting them to challenge for a space on the podium because they are certainly training very hard for it,” she said.