T&T's senior national netball coach Althea McCollin has entered the final phase of preparation of the "Calypso Girls" for the series in Jamaica which will run from October 14-22.
The local team will take on the world fourth-ranked "Sunshine Girls" in the Margaret Beckford Series in a three-match series and face a Jamaican men's team, who was included to facilitate the withdrawal of South Africa in the Tri Nation Series which was due to start on Saturday but was postponed to the next week.
It was reported that the world's number five ranked South Africans pulled out due the rise in COVID-19 cases in Jamaica according to Netball Jamaica president Tricia Robinson, and that the Jamaican men's team will be used to fill the gap.
She said that the men's team will play only two matches in the series, one each against T&T and the Jamaica Sunshine Girls, who is being coached by Connie Francis and won't be challenging or involved with the series between the top two Caribbean teams.
Coach McCollin has already adjusted her game plan to tackle the men's team, saying: "We welcome the replacement team. It will be good for our players to expose themselves to a men's team as they are stronger and faster so we will have to think critically, out of the box!"
Though disappointed that the "Calypso Girls" will not be able to test their skills against South Africa's "Proteas" and get a chance to try an improve its 10th-world ranking, McCollin still pleased to have a replacement team.
She said, "We would have liked to play South Africa but that didn't work out. As I said we appreciate that there is a replacement team.
"With the time being pushed back for the series it gave us a chance to sharpen up our skills. I want everyone to be on par, to execute effectively."
The T&T team is being co-captained by internationals shooter Samantha Wallace and goal-attack specialist Kalifa McCollin, who recently competed in the Australian Suncorp Super Netball League, the former her fifth and the latter her first. The team also includes Jameela McCarthy who earlier this week signed a pro deal with the Saracens Mavericks as a defender to compete in England's top netball competition, the Vitality Super Netball League..
The contingent is set to leave on Wednesday (October 13) ahead of the opening match against "Sunshine Girls" which include ace shooter Jhaniele Fowler, is on October 16, followed by matches on October 18 and 20.
This is T&T's first taste of competition since 2019 and it forms part of the team's preparations for next year's Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England.
Teams
T&T: Samantha Wallace (co-captain), Kalifa McCollin (co-captain), Jameela McCarthy, Crystal-Ann George, Afeisha Noel, Tia Bruno, Oprah Dougles, Janeisha Cassimy, Destiny Williams, Shaquanda Greene-Noel, Aneicia Baptiste, Jeresia McEachrane.
Jamaica: Jhaniele Fowler, Shanice Beckford, Rebecca Robinson, Gezelle Allison, Amanda Pinkney, Adean Thomas, Khadijah Williams, Nicole Dixon, Shadian Hemmings, Shannika Johnson, Shamera Hemmings, Malysha Kelly, Kadie-Ann Duhaney, Latanya Wilson, Jodi-Ann Ward