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• Holmwood Technical completes ISSA rural area Netball double; St. Catherine, Wolmer’s Girls win urban area titles

  Defending all-island champions Holmwood Technical retained their ISSA rural area Under-19 netball title with a 38-30 victory over Denbigh High in Thursday's decider at the National Indoor Sports Centre.

  The May Pen-based won the first quarter 9-8 before the defending champions rallied to lead 15-14 at the half and 37-24 at the end of the third quarter.

  The victory for Holmwood completed the double on the day as their Under-16 team had earlier secured the crown with a 21-16 win in an all-Manchester affair over defending champions Manchester High in a repeat of last year's final.

  In the urban area final, St Catherine High captured their third straight Under-19 title with a 32-24 win over The Queen's School. The St John's Road-based school led all quarters 11-3, 20-12 and 23-16.

  Meanwhile, Wolmer's Girls took the Under-16 crown after beating St Hugh's 27-21 in their decider.

  Manchester High defeated Glenmuir 46-44 to claim third place in the rural area Under-19 category while Mile Gully High claimed third in the Under-16 category with a 32-17 win over Titchfield.

  In the urban area, Gaynstead High claimed third in both the Under-19 and Under-16 categories with wins over St. Catherine High and Camperdown High, respectively.

  They beat St. Catherine 34-19 and Camperdown 37-23.

   

• Sunshine Girls captain Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard expecting second child

  Jamaican netball superstar and Sunshine Girls captain Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard is expecting her second child, her club West Coast Fever announced on Thursday. The news, while joyous, has already affected her availability for recent competitions, as she stepped away from the sport to prioritize her health and well-being.

  In a statement, the Australian-based Fever extended their congratulations to Fowler-Nembhard and her family:
  "Everyone at Fever is absolutely thrilled for Jhaniele and her family. We’ve always known that Jhaniele has dreamed of having another child, and seeing that dream come true is simply wonderful!"

  Fowler-Nembhard’s pregnancy meant she was unavailable for the recently concluded Jamaica-England Horizon Series, which was played on November 16-17 in Manchester and November 25-26 in Kingston. She had been training with the Sunshine Girls and was expected to play a critical role in the series, contributing as a top scorer and mentoring new senior squad members.

  In her absence, Romelda Aiken-George joined the squad and helped fill the void in the goal circle. Netball Jamaica President Tricia Robinson acknowledged the significance of Fowler-Nembhard’s absence but emphasized that her health and well-being were the priority:
  "Netball Jamaica is focused on her health and well-being and will provide updates as necessary regarding her condition."

  Fowler-Nembhard married Ashani Nembhard in a private ceremony in Kingston on December 20, 2023. She also has a daughter, Drehannah, from a previous relationship. This pregnancy marks a new chapter for the couple as they expand their family.

  As the West Coast Fever’s leading goal shooter and a five-time top scorer in Australia’s Suncorp Super Netball League, Fowler-Nembhard has cemented her place as one of the world’s greatest netballers. Her absence from recent international competition is a reminder of her immense value to the Sunshine Girls, both on and off the court.

  While her team and fans will miss her presence in the immediate term, Fowler-Nembhard’s contributions to Jamaican netball are already legendary. The netball community joins in congratulating her on this exciting milestone and looks forward to her eventual return to the sport.

   

• Opinion: Time for a change in the criteria for the RJRGleaner Sports Awards

  The announcement of the 2024 nominees for the RJRGleaner National Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year Awards has reignited the long-standing debate about the fairness of the nomination criteria. These awards, while prestigious, have been heavily skewed in favor of track and field athletes for decades, leaving world-class performers from other sports marginalized.

  It was refreshing to hear Gary Allen, Chairman of the RJR Sports Foundation, acknowledge this issue during the announcement of nominees on Wednesday.  He stated that the Foundation’s board would review the criteria for eligibility after questions were raised about the glaring omissions of netballers and footballers, as well as athletes from other disciplines such as mixed martial arts.

   

  

  Among those omitted this year was Tyrese ‘Tank’ Thompson, who made history by winning the heavyweight division at the Pan American Mixed Martial Arts Championships in Mexico in September. Despite his extraordinary achievement in a highly competitive field, Thompson didn’t even receive a nomination.

  Netball Dominance Overlooked

  In netball, Jamaican players continue to excel on the world stage. Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard, who plays for the West Coast Fever, has been the leading scorer in Australia’s Suncorp Super Netball League for the last five seasons. Fowler’s consistent dominance in the world’s premier netball league is unparalleled, yet she was left out of the list of nominees again this year.

  Romelda Aiken-George, who in 2024 was named MVP of the Suncorp Super Netball finals after leading the Adelaide Thunderbirds to victory, has also been overlooked. Her achievement, combined with her two previous league titles with the Queensland Firebirds, highlights her place among the sport’s elite.

  Additionally, Shamera Sterling-Humphrey and Latanya Wilson have been instrumental in back-to-back Suncorp titles for the Thunderbirds in 2023 and 2024, further solidifying the influence of Jamaican netballers in the world’s top league. Yet, their names remain absent from the nominees list.

  

  The Case for Football

  Football also offers a glaring example of exclusion. Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw, who has established herself as one of the best strikers in the world, plays for Manchester City Women and has been a Ballon d’Or nominee twice. Her incredible performances in the Women’s Super League and UEFA Champions League have placed her among the global elite, yet she wasn’t considered for a nomination.

  The current criteria suggest that Shaw’s club-level achievements are somehow less significant because they weren’t earned while representing Jamaica. This is a flawed perspective that undermines the value of world-class performances at the club level.

  

  A Flawed Framework

  The awards currently hinge on performances for Jamaica at the global, continental, regional, and domestic levels, which effectively excludes many athletes excelling in professional leagues or international competitions outside national representation.

   Take the hypothetical example of Leon Bailey. If he were to score 40 goals and provide 15 assists for Aston Villa, leading them to an English Premier League title, would he not deserve a nomination for Sportsman of the Year? According to the current criteria, he wouldn’t, unless he replicated that performance in a World Cup for Jamaica.

  Closer to home, consider a player who has an outstanding season in the Jamaica Premier League, leading their team to a championship. Why should their achievement be any less worthy of recognition?

  A Need for Inclusivity

  The exclusion of athletes like Thompson, Shaw, Fowler-Nembhard, Aiken-George, and others highlights the need for a more inclusive approach. These individuals are not just representing Jamaica—they are excelling on the global stage, often against the best in their respective fields. Their performances inspire pride and admiration, just as much as any Olympic or World Championship medal.

  Moving Forward

  The RJRGleaner Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year Awards should reflect the diversity of Jamaican sporting excellence, not just its dominance in track and field. Recognizing achievements across disciplines would validate the efforts of athletes in non-traditional sports, providing the motivation, respect, and recognition they deserve.

  I applaud the RJR Sports Foundation for committing to a review of the criteria. Jamaica is more than just a track and field nation; it is a nation rich with talent across countless sports. From the netball courts of Australia to the octagons of Mexico and the football pitches of Europe, Jamaican athletes are making their mark.

  The awards should evolve to celebrate this broader spectrum of achievement, ensuring that every Jamaican athlete, regardless of their sport, has a fair chance to be honoured. It’s time to rewrite the criteria and make these awards truly representative of Jamaica’s sporting legacy.