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Daley calls for increased support of U21 netballers
October 03, 2025
Head coach of Jamaica's under-21 netball team Annette Daley is hoping that their creditable performance at the just-concluded Netball World Youth Cup will result in increased support for the young netballers.
Despite finishing off the podium, Daley heaped praise on her team following their return to the island from Gibraltar on Wednesday evening, after finishing fifth in the 20-team tournament.
SUPERIOR TEAMS
Daley felt Jamaica found the going tough against superior teams.
"I would want to be on the podium, but taking all things into consideration, the girls did an excellent job with what they were given. They were in a zone with the third-place finishers and our intent was that we would ... head the zone," she said.
"However, we fell short. England got the better of us, the experience of the England team showed up. And even when the girls came out in the third quarter and held England to just 10 goals, what happened was that we were not converting the chances that we got because the England team was a more experienced team, and it showed."
FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES
Ahead of the tournament, the team faced financial difficulties which impacted their preparation. Daley put the team's performance into perspective.
"The Australia match, the same thing, but what we take from this is that the team that won and the team that came third were the only teams to beat us in this competition; and the girls with the limited, limited, and I say 'limited' more than once, training and preparation prior," she emphasised.
"I think they did the country (proud), should be proud, and I am hoping that Jamaica will stand behind them, because these are the young girls that are going to be the future. And that is the most important thing, that netball will be that staple that we know."
PLEASED
Vice-captain Shaqwan Hamilton, who plays centre and wing attack, was also pleased with her team's showing.
"The team performed as well as we could, knowing that we went out there, we did our best as a team. The experience was a good one, knowing we went out there and played against other styles of play, except for the Jamaican (style of play). We learnt a few things."
After dispatching Tonga 66-43 and Wales 61-43, the team lost 33-64 to eventual third-place finisher England in the group stage.
Jamaica were then beaten by eventual champions Australia 33-85 in the quarter-finals, before rebounding against the Cook Islands 57-47 in the consolation group semi-finals and Scotland 53-44 to end fifth at the championship.
Australia lifted the Under-21 Netball World Cup title after defeating New Zealand, with England finishing in third place.
Jamaica's best finishes at the Under-21 Netball World Cup was a silver meadl in 2000 and a bronze medal in 2013.
