Fowler second in world’s best netballer poll
SUNSHINE GIRLS captain and goalshooter Jhaniele Fowler has expressed her delight after finishing second in the voting for Netballer of the Year.
Fowler picked up 27 votes, 10 behind England’s Geva Mentor, who was claiming the top spot for the second consecutive year in the world’s best netballer poll organised by the website netballscoop.com.
Fowler’s national teammate Shamera Sterling finished seventh with five votes.
The 27-year-old Fowler had an outstanding season in the Australian Suncorp Super League with the West Coast Fever, where she was voted the Most Valuable Player while helping her team to finish runners-up in the tournament. She averaged 55 goals per game while breaking the record for the most goals in one match as well as the record for the most goals in a season.
“I am feeling really happy because it just shows that my hard work is paying off and others are appreciative of what I do,” said Fowler.
“Finishing second to Geva Mentor is pretty awesome because she is an awesome player, and so there are a lot players in the league that are very good, and so to finish second, I am not comfortable, but I am happy,” she said. “There is always room for me to improve, and I feel that I am getting better and better each year.”
C’WEALTH BRONZE
Rated as the best goalshooter in the world, Fowler led the Sunshine Girls to the bronze medal at this year’s Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.
She has described 2018 as very successful and is now looking forward to greater things in 2019.
“For me, next year is just going to be bigger and better. I am hoping to do my best and to continue to be a top player in the world,” she said while adding that she was happy that Sterling was among the vote getters.
“We have some pretty awesome players, and Shamera has stepped up in the past year, and I am just super-proud of her,” said Fowler.
Goalkeeper Sterling, 22, also had an outstanding year. She was named the MVP of the World Fast5 Series in October and MVP of the Vitality Netball Super League in England.