Senior Sunshine Girl and former captain and vice-captain, Vangelee Williams, has announced her retirement from the national team. Williams first represented Jamaica against South Africa in 2012 and over the next few years and played Wing Defence, Goal Defence, and Goal Keep for her country.
During that time, she won medals at the Commonwealth Games and Fast5 World Series competitions but after more than 50 international caps for the perennial Caribbean queens, Williams, 28, has decided to call time on her career.
“The curtain has closed on what one would call the biggest and best part of my life. I’ve been blessed to be able to represent my country, Jamaica, over all these years. The little girl coming from the country on weekends to try and win a spot in the national program was willing, was motivated, was full of aspirations and big dreams of representing the country at the highest level,” she said while revealing that she intends to continue playing at the local level.
“I am now 28! And Lord knows I’ve made those dreams and aspirations a big reality! I am super proud of all the contributions I’ve made to the programs I’ve been a part of i.e. U16, U21 and the Senior Squad.”
Williams, who first represented Jamaica at the U16 level, said she found success at every level at which she has represented Jamaica.
“Mi get voted captain, mi get voted player to watch, have gotten MVPs, have made the game swing in our favour with one of my famous steals have impacted others players positively, and that is and will always be a big thing for me. I want to see everyone win! Play the best netball you can and enjoy it,“ she said in her post on Facebook.
“What I’ll miss the most is the team banter, our big and very opinionated debates on the bus after training, every dancing session (where Adean (Thomas) to this date is trying to get me in rhythm. Every celebration after a big win!”
“One U16 gold medal, one U21 bronze medal, two senior Bronze at Commonwealth Games, two Silver at Fast Five, and few international and local Series wins in between and over 50 caps later I am retired and loving it.”