Without a shadow of a doubt, the Jamaica Defence Force Netball team fiercely tackled the challenges that stood between them and the Miami Classic Invitational Netball Competition.

The competition was held over the period 17 – 18 October 2009 at the Nova High School Gymnasium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

With a 15-member squad entering the competition, the team was determined to bring home the top prize against approximately 20 teams hailing from the United States (US) and the Caribbean.  

From the ‘get go’ the team captured their first prize by taking the award for the dress parade.   They then moved on to gain five points against their opponent, Police Area 8, from Jamaica.   That boosted the team’s confidence level and brought on a collective ‘hype’ among the team members.

Disappointment crept in however, after they lost to a Florida based team, Sparkle, who defeated the soldiers 12 – 5 to dampen their spirits.   Nevertheless, the soldiers fought back and finished top of their zone to move on to the next round. 

Over the two days of competition, all the teams had the same goal…and that was, to run away with the top-prize of US$1,500.00.   The aroma of that lump sum filled the nostrils of the JDF team when they surpassed all the odds to reach the semi-final round of the competition.

It was not long though before the quest for the lump sum vanished as the soldiers suffered a disappointing loss to the US based team Sparkles All Star.    But as the saying goes, ‘only the strong survive,” and determination and will power rocked the mind of the team.   “Listen ladies we can do this, we can easily walk away with the third prize” announced Capt Sinclair, Force Netball Officer, at the start of the 3rd/4th place playoff against Police Area 7.  

With clear and decisive actions the team walked away with the third spot beating the Police
16-11.    

The finals arrived with Sparkles All Star and University of the West Indies (UWI) Jamaica battling for top prize and bragging rights.      

The competition ended with UWI nailing Sparkles All Star 23 – 17, crowning themselves the 2009 Miami Classic Invitational Netball Classic Champions.

• Training exercises, St Ann
• New Years Eve Ball 2009
• School Challenge Quiz JDF Style
• Chinese Government Providing
  Assistance To The JDF
• French Defence Attache
• Maintaining Peace
• JDF Netballers Vie For Top Honours In Florida
• Remembering Our Fallen Brothers
• Friendly Rivalry Between Both Messes