While she welcomes a long-awaited return to Jamaica’s Sunshine Girls squad, Shimona Jok views the upcoming three-match series against South Africa as more than just another set of games.
For Jok, it’s a culmination of resilience, growth, and a chance to reclaim her place as a leader for the Sunshine Girls, as she will spearhead the team’s attack in the absence of stalwarts Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard and Romelda Aiken-George, who are unavailable for the January 18, 22, and 25 encounters.
This, as the 26-year-old’s journey to this pivotal moment has been anything but ordinary. Standing at an imposing 6-foot-5, Jok’s presence on the court is matched only by her unique story and meteoric rise from humble beginnings at Meadowbrook High School and Holy Childhood High in Kingston to the pinnacle of professional netball—the Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) League.
She debuted for the Sunshine Girls at 18 and quickly captured the attention of scouts, which earned her a professional contract in Australia—a rare feat for Jamaican players at the time.
But the road was far from smooth, as her early days in Australia were marked by cultural adjustment and professional hurdles.
Shimon Jok (left) and compatriot Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard in action for the SSN franchises. (Photos: Getty Images)
“It was a massive challenge; I was nervous and anxious, but I saw it as an opportunity to be better and challenge myself to get out of my comfort zone. I went there, and I just took it with a grain of salt,” she said during an interview on Thursday’s SportsMax Zone, adding that her host family played a crucial role in her adjustment.
“They were Christians like me, so for me that really helped me to get out of feeling homesick and feeling okay instead of thinking I've made the wrong decision,” she shared.
After a debut year with the Adelaide Thunderbirds, Jok moved to the Collingwood Magpies, where her resilience was again tested in 2023 when the franchise was disbanded.
“I think it was, like, really hard for us to swallow that pill because the majority of us have been there for all our lives. I've been there since 2018, so the last few games, we're like, okay, we're going to try to impress the other clubs to see if we can get a contract. But it was hard because some clubs are very loyal to their players, so that left us in a limbo, really trying to find our feet, and it was just a complete traumatic experience that I wish on no player whatsoever,” Jok explained.
Still, the goal shooter, who now represents the Melbourne Mavericks, lauded the league for its attention to detail, particularly where players’ well-being is concerned.
“It exposes you to what it means to be in a real professional environment. I think that's one thing they tick off in Australia and New Zealand; they prioritise the athletes; they prioritise their needs in terms of okay, the do's, the don'ts. They ensure they know their players’ strengths and weaknesses, and they fine-tune the programme around the players,” she reasoned.
Jok and Sunshine Girls teammate Shamera Sterling-Humphrey challenge for possession.
Interestingly, netball wasn’t always Jok’s first love. Growing up, she excelled in basketball and faced a tough decision between pursuing a career on the court or the netball court.
“It was a difficult decision, to be honest. It was one of those decisions where, you know, you've worked so hard for something and then now you have to really sit and measure your pros and cons. Like, if you do one sport, what is it going to do, and if I go to this sport, what is it going to do? I think that's where it was really challenging for me,” she reflected.
“I had mentors like the late Simone Edwards and Keith Daly who helped me weigh my options, and I took the opportunity of netball like it gave me a chance of being able to support my family, still study, and become a professional because back then in the NCAA you weren't allowed to make money,” Jok stated.
Despite her successes abroad, questions about Jok’s commitment to Jamaica lingered, and, as such, she was only listed as a reserve player in the historic bronze medal-winning Sunshine Girls’ 2023 Netball World Cup team.
“That really did hurt me because I did everything to ensure that I was ticking the boxes, ensuring when I’m called upon, I’m ready. As a person, I'd go above and beyond to ensure that, okay, if I'm in a programme, I'm going to do those 1 percenters, even if it means I'm going to annoy you. But if I don't get any reply, how do I go about trying to mimic what is required? That's the position I was in, then hear that I wasn't committed enough," Jok revealed.
Now, Jok’s return to the squad is a chance to silence doubters and showcase her dedication to the black, green, and gold, especially with this being the first time she will lead Jamaica’s shooting line—a role she embraces with humility.
“In all honesty, I haven't really thought about being a lead there because I feel like we're all equal players and we all bring different attributes to the game because there is no way someone's going to be the same player as me or Jhaniele, Romelda. But it's really good to see that it's a different role for me, and I’m not getting too much over my head about being that goal shooter because I can easily be replaced,” she said.
“I never take anything for granted. So like it's an opportunity, I'll take it. But if it's required for someone else better to step into that role to take the team over that line, I'm 100% for it,” Jok declared.
As the third-ranked Sunshine Girls prepare to face the fifth-ranked South Africans, Jok is cautious yet confident, as she promised that the team will give of their best.
“We never take any team for granted; everyone always comes hard for the Sunshine Girls, so we know they are going to come out hard for us. We have to do the work to ensure that we don’t crumble, and we know how to take our time and chip the ball away.
“If we make an error, we don't bite each other's heads off; we just keep sticking together as a team and win together as a team. I think it's really important that we remember that,” Jok ended.