Joining in an opening ceremony that set the tone for the first 2024 season match, Red Stripe Flavours, title sponsor of Netball Jamaica’s Elite Netball League, kicked off the tournament at the National Indoor Sports Centre.

In the opening match, the Kingston Hummingbirds faced off against St. James Sharpes in a high-scoring encounter. After four fast-paced and sometimes evenly contested quarters, the Kingston Hummingbirds claimed victory with a final score of 57 points, while the St. James Sharpes scored 39 points.

Kingston Hummingbirds coach Nordia Hanson expressed that victory was not an easy feat but attributed the team’s success to hard work and determination.

“We are off to a great start, and I must say this win is because of the team spirit we have been able to generate quickly. We have areas that we will work on, but we need to tighten those and keep this energy going for us to stay on top for the upcoming matches,” she said.

The winning team is among five competitive contenders in the league. Alongside the Kingston Hummingbirds are the Manchester Spurs, defending champions coached by Dalton Hinds; the St. Ann Orchids, led by Rasheed Joseph; the St. James Sharpes under Marvette Anderson’s guidance; and the St. Catherine Racers, mentored by Jodi-Ann Ffrench Kentish. Phyllis Thomas and assistant coach Nicole Pinnock coach the National Under-21 team, who are participating as a part of their preparation for the U21 World Cup Qualifiers later this year.

Red Stripe Flavours’ brand manager, Jodi-Ann Campbell, expressed her admiration for the team spirit and energy displayed by the players.

“This match was a great way to start the Elite Netball League. Both teams brought their A-game, which put everyone in a ‘spirited’ mood, and this is exactly what we want to see in the upcoming matches. Red Stripe Flavours is all about bringing people together and adding colour and cheer to any event, so we want to maintain this energy. We have a few surprises in store for the upcoming matches as well, so it’s something I know netball lovers won’t want to miss. Let’s come out in our numbers and give our netballers full support at the upcoming matches,” noted Campbell.

Two matches took place on  Sunday (June 2), with the St. Catherine Racers facing off against the St. Ann Orchids at 4:00 pm, followed by the St. James Sharpes taking on the Manchester Spurs at 5:30 pm at the National Indoor Sports Centre.

The Netball Jamaica Elite League finals will take place on July 26. Matches are set to commence at 6:00 pm on Fridays and at 4:00 pm every Sunday at either the National Indoor Sports Centre or the National Arena.