Hannah Kuhar backs Elite League growth after Spurs title sweep

Hannah Kuhar, an Australian and the only overseas athlete in the recently finished Red Stripe Flavours Netball Jamaica Elite League, says the tournament is getting stronger season by season. She is urging Netball Jamaica to keep putting resources into the product and asking commercial partners to stay on board.

Kuhar helped Manchester Spurs take the title, defeating Kingston Hummingbirds in the championship match. Hummingbirds had held the crown and beaten Spurs in the previous year’s decider.

The visitor, who speaks with clear enthusiasm about how the competition is developing, praised the association for pushing the league forward even when money is tight.

“Every year in the two years I have been here, they (Netball Jamaica) keep learning things, and I think it is so important that Netball Jamaica continues to invest in this league, and the sponsors continue to be a part of it,” she said.

She also stressed a benefit she feels gets too little attention: the Elite League’s role in readying national sides, among them the JACE Risers, for events such as the CAC Games and the Commonwealth Games. In her view, the standards now set need steady care and further expansion.

“You can see from where the Sunshine Girls are going, from where the junior girls are going. The rise of JACE Risers. There is so much to like about Jamaican netball and it is really important that the investment continues.”

After last season’s painful loss in the final, Kuhar was thrilled to watch Spurs lift the Elite League trophy.

“I can’t believe it, but I can believe it. It has been long in the process. We spoke about last year and how much it meant to us to have an undefeated season. Now we breathe right to the ending of that story,” she beamed.

“Sometimes the universe makes things happen in a particular way, and it really felt like the universe said it needed to be a two-year process and I am so happy.”

Surrounded by gifted teammates, Kuhar — who usually lines up at centre or wing attack — described her job as enabling standout performers such as Shanice Beckford, Kaydeen Gordon, most valuable player Kimone Shaw and leading shooter Mone Wilmot.

“My role is to support the super stars on my team. I am so lucky that wherever you look, from goal shooter down to goal keeper, we have some formidable netballers, so my job is to just hang back and support them to do their thing. I am really lucky to play with the girls we have,” she commented.

Affection for Jamaica and the Elite League has not translated into a firm commitment for a third straight campaign.

“For now I just want to enjoy this moment with my teammates. I am really lucky and really grateful for everyone in Jamaica for the way they have supported me for the last two years. I will be leaving with a lot of happy memories,” she said.