KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC-Jamaica’s netballers Shanice Beckford and Nicole Dixon have signed deals to play for Team Northumbria (TN) in the Netball Super League (NSL) in the United Kingdom.
The two university students will become the first Jamaicans to play in the Netball Super League, the elite netball competition in England and Wales.
“It’s overwhelming to be a part of the Northumbria team and get the chance to compete in the SL,” said Dixon, who plays Wing Attack.
“All I can say is that hard work does pay off and whatever anyone wants to be in life or achieve in life it can be done with hard work and determination”.
The league, which runs from January to May, features seven teams from England and one from Wales comprising players from around the world including Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, England, Grenada, Uganda, South Africa, Wales, Namibia and Scotland.
“It’s an honour to be joining TN and to be playing in the NSL. I’m so excited, “said Beckford.
“I just can’t wait to jump on a plane and join the guys in Newcastle”.
Netball officials here say the signing of the two women by Northumbria indicates that there is global recognition of Jamaican talent.
The Sunshine Girls are ranked fourth in the world and several of them attracted interest from scouts from the NSL and the ANZ league during their campaign at the Netball World Cup in Australia this past August.
National players Jhaniele Fowler-Reid and Romelda Aiken now play in the ANZ widely considered the best netball league in the world.
