JAMEELA MCCARTHY is set to return to national duty with the women’s netball team for the 2022 America’s World Cup qualifiers, which begin on Sunday in Kingston, Jamaica.
Earlier this year, McCarthy saw her debut professional season with Saracens Mavericks in England’s Vitality Netball Super League (VSNL) cut short due to medical reasons.
McCarthy, 27, has been selected in T&T’s 12-man squad, which leaves today for Jamaica, where they will compete to defend the American crown.
In the previous 2019 Netball World Cup Americas qualifying tournament, the Calypso Girls defeated hosts Barbados 65-51 on the final day of the tournament in Bridgetown.
McCarthy had played just three games but made a favorable impression in her debut season in England earlier this year.
“Saracens Mavericks can confirm that Jameela McCarthy has been unable to complete this season with Saracens Mavericks due to medical reasons,” Mavericks coach Kat Ratnapala announced in a statement last February.
Along with McCarthy’s return, T&T head coach and former international Kemba Duncan has retained 10 members of the squad that finished bottom of the last Commonwealth Games, beaten only by Caribbean rivals Barbados.
Wales-based Celtic Dragons defender Shaquanda Greene-Noel has been retained as captain, while former UK-based pro Afeisha Noel has been promoted to vice-captain in place of experienced shooter Joelisa Cooper, who is also in the team.
The rest of the team consists of Tiana Dillon, Oprah Douglas, Shantel Seemungal, Faith Hagley, Janeisha Cassimy, Jeresia Mc Everyrane, along with newcomers Cheynelle Dolland and Shaniya Morgan. Tahirah Hollingsworth is now a reserve, along with former athlete Alena Brooks and Ebony Williams.
Coach Duncan believes the Calypso Girls are strengthened by the return of McCarthy. “It adds value because Jameela would have had experience as a defender,” Duncan said.
Eight countries along with hosts Jamaica will take part in the seven-day tournament which will take place from October 16 to 22 at the National Indoor Sports Center in Kingston.
Jamaica has already qualified based on the world No.3 ranking, while T&T, Barbados, St Vincent & Grenadines, Antigua-Barbuda, Cayman Islands, Grenada, St Lucia and the United States will compete for two places in the 2023 Netball Cup. World Cup, to be held in Cape Town, South Africa — the first time the tournament is being held on the African continent.
With America’s qualifiers expected to be less challenging than last July’s Commonwealth Games, T&T and Barbados are favored to secure the two spots available for the 16th edition of the Netball World Cup.
There will be morning and evening sessions, with teams competing in two matches on the opening day. T&T will face Antigua & Barbuda before taking on the St Lucians, who defeated Calypso Girls 38-36 at the U-23 level, on their way to winning bronze at the inaugural Caribbean Games in Guadeloupe in July.
Duncan expects all teams to be focused. “We would have won the last qualifiers and as defending champions we expect that,” said Duncan yesterday, before the team’s departure. “It’s about us being strong and showing that we are defending champions.”
Duncan takes every opponent seriously but is also confident about T&T’s chances of qualification. “We have a good chance. I think the players got a good experience at the Commonwealth Games,” said Duncan, adding, “I respect every opponent. So it’s about us coming in and competing every day.”
In related news, Jamaica’s Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sports is supporting Netball Jamaica’s hosting of the Americas Netball World Cup Qualifier to the tune of US$77,000 (JCA$12 million).
Minister Olivia Grange, official patron of the event, made the announcement at the launch of the qualifier at the NCB Care and Wellness Center on Phoenix Avenue in Kingston last Thursday.
“The ministry and its agencies are providing $1.8 million JCA to Netball Jamaica for team preparation, $2.5 million JCA for transportation and will cover the cost of renting the National Indoor Sports Center where the qualifiers will take place,” he said.
Team T&T:
Shaquanda Greene Noel (captain), Afeisha Noel (vice-captain), Joelisa Cooper, Tiana Dillon, Oprah Douglas, Shantel Seemungal, Faith Hagley, Janeisha Cassimy, Jeresia McEachrane, Jameela McCarthy, Cheynelle Dolland, Shaniya Morgan. Reserves: Tahira Hollingsworth, Alena Brooks, Ebony Williams.
