THE SUNSHINE Girls, Jamaica's crack netball team, recently hosted South Africa and Trinidad and Tobago in a three-team contest and with all the teams playing true to form, Jamaica won, with South Africa finishing second and T&T third.

In fact, Jamaica not only won the tournament, but they also did it in style and quite comfortably at that.

Number four in the world, behind world champions Australia, New Zealand and England - the team they defeated in the bronze medal play-off at the last World Championships in New Zealand - Jamaica, parading some five players who still will be available for the youth team next year, danced down the court, jumping, catching the ball, sending their colleagues away with accurate passes and then, led by ace goal shoot Romelda Aiken and captain and goal attack Simone Forbes, dropping in some wonderful shots.

Although coach Connie Francis expressed some dissatisfaction after the first and second matches, at the other end of the court, the Jamaicans, moving well, reading the play well and making some lovely interceptions, were just as brilliant - especially so in the final match against South Africa.

After defeating Trinidad and Tobago 59-30, after easing to a 53-38 victory over South Africa, the Sunshine Girls, in the final match, in the play-off for the National Commercial Bank Sunshine Savers Trophy, thumped South Africa 61-47.

Pressure

Leading by a mere three points at the end of the first half, the Girls turned on the pressure and were simply brilliant as they strolled to victory by 14 points.

As Jamaica danced up and down the court, drilling in point after point, there was one disappointment.

As well as the fans received their brilliance and as much as the fans cheered, it must have been disappointing to JNA president Marva Bernard and to IFNA president, the former JNA president Molly Rhone, that there were not more spectators present.

It was not the world championship and it was not the Caribbean championship. By their absence, however, the fans let down the sport and the players and the administration must be and should be disappointed.

The players, numbered among the best in the world, should be disappointed because performance is dependent not only on practice, but also on atmosphere during matches and, there is no question about it, spectators make atmosphere.

As far as the administration is concerned, money is important to the survival and to the success of the sport. Money comes from sponsors and sponsors love atmosphere.

It is as simple as that, and just as how the players and the administrators have a part to play in Jamaica maintaining and improving on its position in the world of netball, so too do the fans.

Apart from paying at the gate and allowing the JNA to collect some much needed funds, the fans need to provide the atmosphere for the players and for the sponsors and the only way they can do so is by attending matches, local and international.

I was surprised at the low spectator support during the four nights of the tournament and I was surprised for one simple reason.

Although I know that Jamaicans have a history of supporting winning teams only, this was a tournament hosted by the JNA and their Sunshine Girls - a combination that is accustomed to winning and to making Jamaica proud.

Fan support

The support by the fans at the NCB Sunshine Savers netball tournament was in contrast to the support for the first Caribbean Awards Sports Icons at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel on Friday, November 7.

Sir Gary Sobers, Sir Vivian Richards and the honorary Courtney Walsh OJ were all unavoidably absent, as they were in London representing their respective countries at the annual World Travel Fair, and they were missed, no question about that.

A full house, however, turned up to witness the event. From all accounts, they enjoyed them-selves at what was a wonderful event and, apart from Sobers who won the cricket award, congratulations to icons like Alberta Juantorena - Cuba, track and field, Michael McCallum - Jamaica, boxing, Lindy Delapenha - Jamaica, football, Jennifer Frank - Trinidad and Tobago, netball, and to Jack Warner - Trinidad and Tobago, administrator, on being the first of those remembered from days gone by.

Civilised society

Sport is important to any civilised society. While it is great to praise the champions of today, it is always good to remember the heroes of the past and to those behind the CASI event, to Al Hamilton, to Paulton Gordon, to Carmen Clarke, to those from the JOA and the private sector who supported it, many, many thanks.

I will never, ever forget the look of satisfaction, of happiness, on the faces of Delapenha, McCallum and Frank and I will never ever forget the words of Warner when he said: "I always love Jamaica, Jamaica is my second home, only Jamaica and Jamaicans would have thought about something like this much more do something like this."

Next year when CASI starts to add performances during the year at what is expected to be an annual event, it should be even better.