Robert Bailey, Freelance Writer

Connie Francis - file

THE JAMAICA Netball Association (JNA) has received another major financial boost ahead of this year's World Championships through the adopt-a-player programme.

The latest addition to the programme is national senior coach Connie Francis, who will receive $300,000 of financial support from Seprod.

Francis now joins captain Elaine Davis and Simone Forbes on the 'adopted' list.

Guardian Life has adopted Davis, while Forbes will receive support from National Commercial Bank.

The group financial controller of Seprod, Carl Domville, announced his company's plans for the national coach during a training session at the National Stadium Courts on Wednesday.

"Connie has been very important to us and has brought a lot of fame both as a former captain and as a coach," Domville said.

"Netball is the sport that Jamaica has the highest world ranking in, and it is very important that we take advantage of this by sponsoring persons who show ability," he said.

Welcome sponsorship

JNA president Marva Bernard said the sponsorship was welcomed by the association.

"We have the adopt-a-player programme going as our major fund-raising event to assist us to underwrite the expenses of sending the team to the World Championships," said Bernard.

"We approached corporate Jamaica - especially the companies that some of the players are employed with - and Connie (Francis) is employed by Seprod Group of Companies and they have happily agree to underwrite all of her expenses," Bernard said.

Bernard added that sponsorship of Francis had taken some pressure off the association. However, Bernard said the association was still trying to find sponsors for the management team, along with other players.

Bernard also noted that the association was still short on funds to send the team to the World Championships.

"We are way short of our target. We still need another $3.5 million to go the World Championships," she said.

The Sunshine Girls will tackle England in a three-Test series next week at the National Indoor Sports Centre.

The first match is set for September 17, the second is on the 19th and the third on the 20th.This will be the final series for Jamaica before the championships which begin in New Zealand on November 10.