Francis to coach Sunshine Girls at Fast Five Series

Connie Francis will be head coach for Jamaica's team to the Fast Five World Series set for Melbourne, Australia on October 29 and 30.

Francis, who represented Jamaica in five World Netball Championships, also coached the team at the 2007 tournament where they finished third but was sacked months ahead of the 2011 edition when the job was given to Oberon Pitterson.

Subsequently she had a stint with the St Lucia national team but is now back home. She will join the squad departing on Saturday for the October 29 start of the Fast Five World Series.

She will however not have some key members of the national squad, namely ace shooters Romelda Aiken and Jhanielle Fowler-Reid.

Ana-Gay Grifiths will lead the attacking unit. Nicole Dixon, Vanessa Walker, Shantal Slater, Gezelle Allison and Trishana Hanson will also form part of the attack force. Veteran Althea Byfield who recently came out of retirement, will captain the team.

She is part of an experienced defensive line up which also includes Nicole Aiken-Pinnock, Kasey Evering and Vangelee Williams

Netball Jamaica President Dr Paula Daley-Morris will head the contingent which also has another former goal-shooter Elaine Davis as assistant coach and massage therapist.