Malyasha Kelly has stepped into the role of captain of the Jamaica Netball team, the Sunshine Girls, and the 23 year old University of the West Indies student is bracing for this new challenge. She was the co-captain of the team during the Fast Five tournament in New Zealand in 2013 where she and Romelda Aiken shared the responsibility. Now she has been chosen to lead a young but talented squad and she is ready to rise to the occasion.
Malyasha Kelly has stepped into the role of captain of the Jamaica Netball team, the Sunshine Girls, and the 23 year old University of the West Indies student is bracing for this new challenge. She was the co-captain of the team during the Fast Five tournament in New Zealand in 2013 where she and Romelda Aiken shared the responsibility. Now she has been chosen to lead a young but talented squad and she is ready to rise to the occasion.
“My experience as co-captain was good, we had a great set of girls and they made it easy for us . They responded will, we gelled together and they were supportive knowing that Romelda and I were doing it for the first time.
“Now that I am the one in charge, being captain on my own, it looks challenging, but I am willing to move out of my introverted personality to take on the responsibility. With Romelda it was easier because we would discuss things and she would talk more.
“But now that it’s me, myself and I, I definitely have to talk more. I won’t be a dictator but I will guide and lead -be an all inclusive captain. It is who I am, I will listen to people and get their opinion but the buck will definitely stop with me.”
Fortunately for Kelly she can draw on the experience of former captain, Nadine Bryan, who is still a member of the squad.
“Nadine has helped me along by pointing out things that I need to correct and she knows that I don’t talk much. On one occasion she helped me out when there was a need for her to speak. As a leader your instinct will kick in. I am learning as I go along. There will be different challenges, you will make mistakes but as long as you learn from them things will be OK,” she reasoned.
” This is my first time so no doubt I will need help from her and it is always good to make use of your resources .”
Her first opportunity as captain will be in a tough Tri-Series that includes hosts England and World number one New Zealand. Being so early in the year, Kelly sees this as a really good chance to measure the team’s readiness ahead of the Commonwealth Games this summer.
“The greatest thing I think is that we will get experience, we will get to know where we are and where we need to be for the rest of the season. So it a very good thing that we are getting this tour so early in the year especially since it is a commonwealth year.”
The defender is now pursuing a Masters in Business Management after completing her first degree in International Relations.
“I switched because I want to increase my versatility. The programme I am doing creates experiences by giving me internships which I am able to do when I am not traveling with netball.”
Unknown to most people, the UWI student did not begin playing netball until high school. While in primary school at Ewarton Primary, she ran track and it was only when she got to McGrath High that she added the sport of netball. The focus on netball came after a switch in high schools.
“I switched from McGrath to Dinthill and that is when the focus went to netball only. Unfortunately I never won any titles in high school but I lost a couple of semifinals to Edwin Allen. In 2010, I captained the UWI team and we won the Intercol title. I am no longer captain but I still play for the team.”
The multi-talented athlete still loves track and plays basketball as well. She spends most of her fee time lyming with her friends who are netballers mostly and like most people her age craves social media.
“Bridgette Foster-Hylton and Asafa Powell are my favourite local athletes. I grew up watching them run and Asafa is from Ewarton just like me,” she said with a grin. “My favourite international athlete is Blanca Vlasic.”
Kelly started playing netball after spending time following her two older sisters as they played the game which has eventually led to her playing the game at the highest level. Down-under may be the next big move in her career.
“I want to play in the ANZ after school. It provides opportunities for us to do what we love and make money from it like any other sport. You can do what you love and the league provides competition at a higher level on a consistent basis, so you eventually get better.
Photo: Malyasha Kelly
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