Fowler disappointed to be called ‘former Sunshine girl’
Former national senior captain Jhaniele Fowler says she is saddened and shocked by the decision by Netball Jamaica (NJ) to refer to some players as “former Sunshine Girls.”
NJ sent out an email to the players last month referring to them as “former Sunshine Girls players” and advising that each player was expected to attend sessions on September 28 and October 5 at the Leila Robinson Courts.
The email also said that this was the final opportunity for all former Sunshine Girls to make the squad. With the exception of the players who are currently off the island and they are all required to attend this final training session.
However, Fowler, who is rated as the best goal shooter in the world, told STAR Sports that she was very upset and distraught by NJ’s handling of the matter.
“Being called a former Sunshine girl after just coming out of a World
Cup and after representing the country for so many years, then of course, I am disappointed,” said Fowler.
“I am beyond disappointed with the organisation for how they have dealt with us and for how they make it seems like we are a bad bunch of girls because we are not,” she said.
With the exemption of goal shooter Romelda Aiken, who is now injured, and defender Vangelee Williams, who is taking a one-year break from the sport, Fowler along with the vast majority of the Sunshine Girls team to the 2019 NWC have been excluded from the training squad after failing to show up for mandated Netball Jamaica (NJ) trials.
In fact, defender Kadie-Ann Dehaney is the only member of the ill-fated NWC squad who has been called up by NJ to the training for their upcoming Quad Series, which involves host England, World champions New Zealand and South Africa in January.
“Not being called to the squad, of course I am disappointed,” said Fowler. “Yes, they had a trial, but from my experience from being in this organisation for so long, what trials means is for them to go islandwide and try out to get individuals to come into and to add to the already existing squad,” she said.
“Trials for the likes of myself and the other existing Sunshine Girls is when there is an upcoming tour and they need to select 12 players, so then we will be available for that trials,” Fowler said. “If we miss that trial for any reasons that we cannot account for, then it is up to the organisation to leave us off the team,” Fowler explained.