As the highly anticipated Netball World Cup in South Africa gears up to begin, player security fears have shaken the competition. Jamaica's netball captain and West Coast Fever star, Jhaniele Fowler, fell victim to a robbery just 24 hours before the tournament's tip off.
The 34-year-old shooter took to Instagram to share the distressing incident, revealing that she had been robbed and faced attempts of intrusion into her room in South Africa. Fowler expressed her frustration, stating, "This is so unfortunate, this place isn't safe. First, they stole money from my purse, now people are trying to come in on us in our rooms. Really!"
Fowler's experience has heightened concerns about the safety and security of players during the prestigious event. With the World Cup set to begin on Friday, players and officials are anxious about ensuring the safety of all participants.
Despite the unsettling incident, Fowler remains focused on leading Jamaica to a first-ever world title. Speaking about Jamaica's World Cup campaign, she expressed their strong desire to "bring gold back to Jamaica." With Fowler's experience and leadership, the team is optimistic about their chances of winning the coveted title.
"Our aim is to be here until the end and be on that podium, but we have to take it one game at a time," said Fowler, emphasizing the team's focus on taking each match step by step.
Fowler-Nembhard dominant as Fever rebound with win over Lightning in Suncorp Super Netball
Jamaican superstar goal shooter Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard was at her usual dominant best to help her West Coast Fever secure a hard-fought victory (71-68) against the Sunshine Coast Lightning in a back-and-forth tussle in Suncorp Super Netball action at UniSC Arena on Saturday.
Despite the Lightning winning time in possession, the Fever's exceptional shooting accuracy (97%) and success with Super Shots (5/9) propelled them to victory in front of an enthusiastic away crowd.
Fowler-Nembhard stood out as the player of the match, amassing an impressive 119.5 Nissan Net Points and shooting at an astounding 98% (53/54) during regular match time.
Shanice Beckford was also instrumental in the win with 13 goal assists and 17 feeds.
The Fever have now reclaimed their position at the top of the table and will take on the Adelaide Thunderbirds next on Saturday June 8.
Elsewhere, goal defence Jodi-Ann Ward's 33.5 Nissan Net Points were not enough to prevent her GIANTS Netball outfit from being defeated 74-60 by the Melbourne Vixens at John Cain Arena.
The Vixens shot accurately, 62/67 for 90% to be exact, while also having the edge in time of possession, intercepts and turnovers.
Goal shooter Sophie Garbin was the star of the day for the Vixens with 119.5 Nissan Net Points after producing 48 goals from 51 attempts.
The Vixens, who handed the Fever their first loss last week, are second in the table with just one loss in eight games, same as the Fever.
Latanya Wilson’s ascent to netball stardom paved with hard work, stubborn determination
Adversity often serves as the catalyst for greatness, and Latanya Wilson’s path to being a formidable force for Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) League franchise Adelaide Thunderbirds and, by extension, Jamaica, is a testament to that.
Wilson’s journey has been one of perseverance, talent, and an unyielding drive for success as being told she wasn’t good enough, coupled with tragic losses along the way, shaped her ascent in netball to the point where she is now a force to be reckoned with.
The rangy wing defence, who possesses the ability to both hunt and find the loose balls, recently celebrated her 50th game milestone in the SSN, and as she reflected on the path to achieving the feat, Wilson is even more determined to add another chapter to that legacy.
“Reaching 50 games in the SSN is truly surreal. It feels like a huge accomplishment, especially considering what the journey was like and the dedication and hard work it took to get here. To say it was rough would be an understatement, you know, the setbacks and obstacles that I faced along the way, but I was always focused on the bigger picture,” Wilson told SportsMax.TV from her base in Australia.
“I am grateful for everyone who supported me in overcoming those challenges to make it this far, and I'm excited to see what the future holds because I still have so much more to give, and so it is just about pushing even harder from here to accomplish even more,” she added.
Latanya Wilson produced a Player of the Match performance on her 50th outing.
Having worked her way through the ranks of Jamaica’s netball teams, Wilson’s career initially took flight when she was drafted by Cardiff Dragons in England’s Vitality Netball Superleague in 2020, which is where she first paraded her prowess to create turnover balls, as well as her impressive vision and take off speed.
However, it wasn’t until she arrived in Australia a year later that Wilson really honed her craft as a defensive powerhouse. The 23-year-old’s agility, keen sense of positioning, and ability to read the game have made her an indispensable asset to the Thunderbirds team.
“The growth has been immense because Australian netball is incredibly fast-paced and strategic. Moving here forced me to refine my skills, improve my decision-making under pressure, and develop a deeper understanding of the game. The competition is fierce, and playing alongside and against some of the best players in the world has pushed me to become a more well-rounded and confident athlete,” Wilson shared.
Despite her consistency and resilience, the Mico University alumna attributed her success to the support of her coaches and teammates, her Sunshine Girls compatriots Shamera Sterling-Humphrey and Romelda Aiken-George in particular.
Latanya Wilson (left) share a light moment with compatriot Shamera Sterling-Humphrey.
“My success is a combination of factors. My unwavering passion for the sport keeps me motivated to train hard and push my limits, and that along with having dedicated coaches who believe in my potential and provide constant guidance has been instrumental. Additionally, the unwavering support system of family, friends, and teammates fuels my drive to succeed,” Wilson noted.
“Playing alongside Shamera and Romelda is truly an honour. They're not just exceptional players, but also big sisters to me who share their knowledge and experience. Also, having other familiar faces like Shanice [Beckford] and others in the league fosters a sense of camaraderie and competition,” she reasoned.
Besides her 50th game milestone, Wilson also boasts another significant achievement of assisting Thunderbirds to the title last year. But for every remarkable feat, the soft-spoken player pointed out that there were lessons that she had to learn.
“Winning the SSN championship with my team was a dream come true, and the feeling of celebrating with my teammates is unforgettable. There have also been personal achievements, like being named in the team of the year twice in a row, but there have been low moments as well. Being away from my loved ones and missing out on family celebrations are among them, but it taught me resilience and the importance of mental strength. Both the highs and lows have made me a stronger and more resilient player and so I relish each when they come,” Wilson revealed.
Wilson and her Adelaide Thunderbirds teammates.
Looking ahead, Wilson remains grounded and motivated by the support of her family, fans, and teammates. For her, the road ahead is filled with promise and challenges, but she is undeterred and is unflinching in her desire to help the Thunderbirds secure another SSN crown.
With seven games gone in the season so far, Thunderbirds sit third on five wins and two losses and Wilson is eyeing more improvements heading into round eight.
“There's always room for improvement, but overall, I'm happy with how the team is gelling. We're building momentum, learning from each game, and finding our rhythm. It’s still early days, but every team is strong, and the competition is fierce. We are focusing on each game one at a time and hopefully that will land us in the finals,” the bubbly personality stated.
“Personally, my ultimate goal is to continue contributing to my team's success and also to maintain my high standard when I’m representing my country at the international level. I'm constantly striving to improve my skills, develop new strategies, and become a beast on court, as I hope to inspire young athletes and show them that hard work and dedication can lead to achieving their dreams,” she ended.
“We got taught a lesson”: van der Dussen credits Windies for dominant performance in T20I series
South Africa stand-in Captain Rassie van der Dussen gave his West Indian counterparts all the praise in the world after his side suffered a dominant 0-3 defeat in their three T20Is from May 23-26 at Sabina Park in Kingston.
The hosts won last Thursday’s first encounter by 28 runs, their biggest win over South Africa in T20Is, and followed it up with a 16-run win in the second game on Saturday and a dominant eight-wicket triumph in the third match on Sunday.
The skipper put the South African performance down to an inability to quickly adapt to the conditions of the Sabina Park pitch.
“We just couldn’t adapt early enough. Yes, we had a long week in terms of layovers in Miami and so forth. I think we saw that in the first match but you can’t keep making the same mistakes,” van der Dussen said after Sunday’s game.
“I think we just got taught a lesson on how to play in Caribbean conditions, especially from a bowling front. It was a difficult wicket to bat on. I think they just out-skilled us, especially with the ball,” he added.
When asked about positives he could take from the three games, he singled out openers Quinton de Kock and Reeza Hendricks as well as young leg-spinner Nqaba Peter who played the last two games, the first two T20Is of his career.
The 35-year-old, who was left out of South Africa’s squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup, says an adjustment he hopes the team makes with the bat is to take a few more chances up front.
“Maybe just be a bit braver. We saw the way the West Indies play, especially in the power play. They really take it on and when the ball’s newer, it’s easier to score than in the back end when the ball gets soft,” he said.
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