Australian Kuhar urges sustained backing for Netball Jamaica Elite League

Hannah Kuhar, the Australian and sole overseas athlete in the recently wrapped Red Stripe Flavours Netball Jamaica Elite League, says organisers should keep putting money and energy into the competition.

Playing for Manchester Spurs, she helped her side dominate the just-finished campaign and claim the title in the final against holders Kingston Hummingbirds — the same club that beat Spurs in last season’s decider.

Kuhar, who is keen on seeing the league develop, praised Netball Jamaica’s push to strengthen the competition even while working with scarce means.

“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,” Kuhar said after the recent final.

She argued that a key benefit often underplayed is how the Elite League readies national outfits, among them the Jace Risers, for meets abroad such as the Central American and Caribbean Games and the Commonwealth Games. In her view, the tournament has already raised the bar and that progress needs ongoing support.

“You can see from where the Sunshine Girls are going and where the junior girls are going. Look at the Jace Risers. There is so much to like about Jamaican netball and it is really important that the investment continues,” she said.

After last year’s painful final loss, she was thrilled Spurs are now Jamaica’s netball champions.

“We spoke about it last year and how much it meant to us to have an undefeated season,” she said. “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.”

On a roster stacked with quality, Kuhar — who usually operates at centre or wing attack — cast herself as a link for teammates she called the side’s standouts: Shanice Beckford, Kaydeen Gordon, tournament MVP 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.

For all her affection for Jamaica and the Elite League, she would not say whether she will return for a third straight season.

“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.