( L - R ) Romelda Aiken, C. Lloyd Walker, national Under-21 netball coach. - file photos

A confident 12-member Jamaica Under-21 netball team left the island yesterday for the World Youth Netball Championships, which will be held in the Cook Islands from August 10-20.

The Jamaicans finished fourth in the last championships, which was held in Florida four years ago, but coach C. Lloyd Walker is very optimistic that the team can win a medal at this year's tournament.

Well prepared

"We are definitely hoping to better our fourth-place finish in Florida four years ago. We are going to the Cook Islands to medal," said Walker. "I know exactly what we are going up against and I know exactly where our limitations are because we are going up against the superpowers of netball in the world."

Walker added that the team has prepared well and the girls are ready and raring to go.

"We have been training very hard and I can promise Jamaica that these girls will do well," said Walker who took over the coaching duties from Janet Guy earlier this year.

"Australia came and gave us a lesson in netball and we want to go there and show them that we have improved a lot from this. I am certain that the girls we have here are up for the challenge," Walker noted.

Goal shooter Romelda Aiken, who is the only returning member of the 2005 team, is expected to lead the junior Sunshine Girls up front. The 6' 5" Aiken captured her second consecutive Most-Valuable-Player (MVP) award in the ANZ Championships, which is played in both Australia and New Zealand and ended two weeks ago. She was also a member of the senior team that won the bronze at the 2007 World Championships, held in New Zealand. Aiken, along with captain and goal attack Christina Solmon who was also a member of that 2007 team, is one of the more experienced players.

Strong defence

Jamaica are also strong in defence with overseas-based player Afrika Morris at goal defence and the versatile Sashergaye Lynch at goalkeeper. Lynch is a senior team invitee. Jamaica should also be strong at centre court with Sateva Taylor and Lassania Mattis, who were both part of the senior squad that won the Caribbean Champ-ionships last year.

In the build-up to this year's championships, the young Sunshine Girls were thrashed 3-0 by Australia. However, they rallied in their next series to defeat their England counterparts 2-1. The Jamaicans played without Aiken for both series. Walker noted the team is improving steadily.

'We are going to the Cook Islands to medal ... I know exactly what we are going up against and I know exactly where our limitations are ... '

-Coach