Calypso Girls open Netball World Cup against champs New Zealand

Trinidad and Tobago begin their 2023 Vitality Netball World Cup campaign with a mountainous task against defending champions New Zealand in the opening match at the Cape Town International Convention Centre in South Africa, on Friday, from 3am (TT time).

The Calypso Girls and Silver Ferns are in Pool D alongside Uganda and Singapore, and make up 16 teams in the four-group series.

TT are ranked 11th on the world netball rankings while New Zealand are second, Uganda eighth and Singapore 28th.

On Saturday, TT return to action against Singapore from 3am and play their final group match against Uganda on Sunday, from 10am.

TT are however, without the likes of star players Samantha Wallace, whose injury earlier this year ruled her out, and Kalifa McCollin.

Head coach is Joel Young-Strong.

Most notably, TT are the only other team, outside of Australia and New Zealand, to win a Netball World Cup, as they finished joint winners with Australia and New Zealand at the 1979 World Tournament in Port of Spain, Trinidad.

At the last Netball World Cup, Liverpool 2019, the Calypso Girls finished ninth.

TT Netball World Cup team - Alena Brooks, Tia Bruno, Joelisa Cooper, Tiana Dillon, Oprah Douglas, Shaquanda Greene-Noel, Jameela McCarthy, Jeresia McEchrane, Shaniya Morgan, Afeisha Noel, Shantel Seemungal, Daystar Swift (Reserves) Chantael Perry-Mcewan, Jenelle Richardson, Afiya Vincent