The University of the West Indies Netball Pelicans Nadine Bryan, Mallysha Kelly and Shadian Hemmings have been called up for national duties, as the Sunshine Girls seek to take on South Africa in a 3 Test Supreme Ventures Sunshine Series at the National Indoor Sports Center. The matches are scheduled for Friday, June 15, 2012 at 7:00pm, Sunday, June 17, 2012 at 5:00pm and Tuesday, June 17, 2012 at 7:00pm.

All three are UWI Scholarship athletes and Captain Bryan is no stranger to representational netball, this series will make it her 100th international cap for the island. She has played over three tri-test series since 2007 and has been appointed captain once again, following years of serving as vice-captain. Kelly too has represented the island on several occasions, as she was only thirteen years old when the association chose her as a suitable candidate to be trained for the under sixteen squad. Since then she has moved up the ranks to the senior team. Hemmings, however, will seek to make her debut in representational netball and has expressed her delight in being chosen to represent her country. "I am excited! It is a good feeling and we are just going out to compete just as much as we expect to get competition."

Our athletes are not the only Pelicans soaring to higher heights; UWI Coach, Conrad Parks was called by the Jamaica Netball Association last year to take up the role as Midcourt/Center Court coach. Parks works with both the under 21 and senior team and will be in the capacity of Technical Specialist on Tuesday, the final day of the series. Jamaica is currently ranked fourth on the world stage, two spots above South Africa. In their last encounter the Sunshine Girls outplayed the  South Africans 72-45 at the World Netball Championships in Singapore last year. Coach Parks is desirious of winning. "We really need to perform well as a team to build the young players confidence, as a few have been drafted into the team from the under 21 squad. We also need to do well to progress to take on higher ranked teams." 

A win for the Sunshine girls will not only boost their confidence but also boost their world ranking. The UWI Sports Department and by extension the UWI community wish for our Pelicans all the best as we continue to shine.

UWI MONA SPORT- CREATING CHAMPIONS; BUILDING LEADERS