Shamera Sterling-Humphrey to captain Jamaica's Sunshine Girls at Glasgow Commonwealth Games

Jamaica has appointed experienced goalkeeper Shamera Sterling-Humphrey as captain of its 12-member Sunshine Girls squad for this summer's Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland. Shanice Beckford and Latanya Wilson will serve as vice-captains.

The lineup includes seasoned campaigners Romelda Aiken-George, Kadieann Dehaney, Jodi-Ann Ward, and Nicole Dixon-Rochester, along with Crystal Plummer and Abigail Sutherland. Overseas-based players Bree Gordon, Rhea Dixon, and Asantewa Wilson round out the group. Five of the six Jamaica players who recently featured in Australia's Suncorp Super Netball League were selected. Goal shooter Shimona Nelson was invited but made herself unavailable.

Twelve countries will contest the netball tournament from 25 July. Jamaica is in Pool B alongside New Zealand, Wales, Uganda, Trinidad and Tobago, and Scotland, and opens against Uganda on 27 July. The Commonwealth Games run from 23 July to 2 August.

At the last edition in Birmingham, England, four years ago, the Sunshine Girls delivered Jamaica's best Commonwealth Games netball result by winning silver. The squad is aiming to improve on that performance, with a training camp in Durham, England, set to bring overseas-based players together with the locally based contingent. The home-based group is scheduled to depart on Friday for the Durham camp.

Netball Jamaica and the Sunshine Girls have received a major financial boost through a $20 million cash and in-kind commitment over two years from the Cari-Med Group via its Kendel brand, which is now a principal sponsor of the programme.

President of Netball Jamaica Karen Baugh said the partnership has arrived at a critical point in the team's journey. "We've just come out of two residential camps for the teams where food is premium. We have to give the girls proper nutrition. So, going forward, we know that part of that expense will be covered by Kendel and the brands they represent. The girls will also get support for vitamins and pain care. Today has really been an awesome day in terms of partnership."