Brie Grierson could have been born in England however after making her début for the Sunshine Women in January, her dedication to Jamaica has reached new ranges.
In her first look for Jamaica’s senior netballers, the 27-year-old attacker performed an important function as they swept South Africa 3-0 within the Margaret Beckford Sunshine Sequence on the Nationwide Indoor Sports activities Centre final month.
Grierson, initially from Leeds, certified to play for the Sunshine Women by means of her father, whose roots are in Mocho, Clarendon.
Stepping on the courtroom and popping out on prime, Grierson was overcome with emotion.
“Debuting was unbelievable, I cried day one. I simply checked out my mother and father and felt so proud to be Jamaican. To get to begin a world sequence, I didn’t assume that may occur so rapidly, so it’s been unbelievable on and off the courtroom. The Women made me really feel welcomed, and I don’t need to depart,” she instructed the Jamaica Observer.
Grierson, who performs for Nottingham Forrest in the UK’s Netball Tremendous League, has been used to the British ambiance at video games. However after experiencing the assist from the Jamaican crowd she was left in awe.
“I’ve by no means skilled something prefer it. I instructed [fellow British-born player] Rhea [Dixon] it’s going to be quiet going again to the UK and taking part in within the Tremendous League, nobody goes to be smashing pans,” she joked.
“It’s unbelievable to see how proud everyone seems to be to be Jamaican and assist the Sunshine Women. [Jamaican-born teammate] Latanya [Wilson] and I spoke briefly on the finish, she simply mentioned it’s not been as packed and loud as this so we’re on an increase. And we really feel like the group and followers are coming with us on the journey, they usually actually did assist us get the win,” Grierson added.
The athlete represented England on the youth degree, however over the previous couple of years strongly thought-about sporting the black, gold and inexperienced after discussions with Sunshine Women star Shamera Sterling-Humphrey.
Now, after being with the crew and having the sequence success, Grierson is extra motivated than ever.
“[Head Coach] Sasher[-Gaye Henry-Wright], the choice employees, and I had plenty of conversations earlier than approaching board as a result of we each needed to ensure it was proper for us, and I didn’t need it to be simply an choice; it’s a dedication. I’m dedicated to this squad,” she added.
The Sunshine Women have predominantly been a decent unit with high quality gamers, so it was assumed that new additions must work time beyond regulation to show themselves. Nevertheless, Grierson mentioned the squad was already cognisant of what she might contribute.
“I feel strain is one thing you placed on your self, so I used to be simply attempting to see what can I deliver to the crew and simply at all times be constructive. I used to be actually lucky that I already knew a few of the women, like Rhea, Shanice [Beckford] and Shamera, so it’s type of simpler when the massive canines know you, to ease you in. It additionally helped assembly all of them in England, so I felt far more comfy this time understanding them and never feeling I needed to show myself,” she defined.
She additionally hailed the teaching employees for making the transition easy for the crew on and off the courtroom.
“Sasher and [her assistant] Kurt [Dale] are unbelievable, I’m going to overlook them a lot. I’m going to overlook the Women as properly,” Grierson mentioned as she returns to membership responsibility in England.
“We had fairly a brief interval collectively, two weeks isn’t that lengthy if you break down the video games, as a result of you will have relaxation days between. However the coaches actually deliberate it properly, gave us as a lot data as doable to go ahead within the sequence, after which to have the ability to play all 15 gamers is superb to do and get three wins,” she added.
Jamaica moved as much as third within the World Netball rankings and are aiming to win the nation’s first-ever gold medal at a serious competitors.
Assured in her resolution to symbolize the Sunshine Women, Grierson mentioned she’s hoping to be a part of historical past.
“I feel, for us, we had been saying it feels nice to win and that’s all we need to do now. We would like gold at Commonwealth Video games, we wish gold on the World Cup, and I consider this squad can try this and we’re all dedicated to that journey,” she charged.
