Bermuda netball captain Debré Evans and vice-captain Kianté Lightbourne are proud to be entrusted with the leadership of the new-look side as they prepare to compete in the Battle of the Isles in Sint Maarten and Sint Eustatius.

The senior women’s netball team departed the island on Monday and will face Canada, British Virgin Islands, Guadeloupe and Sint Maarten and Sint Eustatius, with the first match on Tuesday marking an end to the island’s eight-year international hiatus.

Evans, 25, has represented Bermuda at under-16 and under-21 level and is delighted to make her senior debut as team leader.

“I am extremely grateful and humbled to be appointed captain,” Evans told The Royal Gazette.

“This is my first senior call-up and to be chosen as the captain was extremely overwhelming because I often discredit myself and completely disregard my talent.

“I didn’t know I was being considered. When coach Anthony Mouchette announced to the team who he had selected as captain and vice-captain, I didn’t expect to hear my name.

Evans is thrilled to be working with Lightbourne and believes the pair complement each other.

“I’m so excited to be working alongside Kianté in this leadership role as I admire her as a person and player.

“Her work ethic is always 100 per cent and she has a lot of experience and knowledge on the sport. It’s a breath of fresh air to play with her and lead the team with her.

“My hope is to lead my team to victory because we deserve this. We’ve worked so hard and all want this so bad. It’s within our reach and we just need to claim it.

“There’s a lot of phenomenal and experienced players on the team that I am learning a lot from. Your perspective changes once you’re playing with people versus against them.

“Our squad is strong, everyone has worked so hard to get here and to my team-mates, I am proud of every single one of you.

“For some this may be their last national call-up and for a few this is only their first, but for Netball Bermuda this is only the beginning.”

Lightbourne is also making her first appearance for Bermuda at senior level and she feels that the vice-captaincy role is a reward for the effort she has put into her game.

“It feels good to be trusted with this role,” the 28-year-old said.

“I put in a lot of work in training both with and without the squad. To have this role just lets me know that my hard work is recognised and that the coaching staff trust me to help lead the team.”

The team have been preparing for the trip since July with a pre-tournament squad of 26 before the final 12 was selected last month.

“The weeks of preparation have been intense but not impossible,” Evans said.

“We have been training four times a week, two skills and drill sessions, a practice match on Saturday and weight training on Sunday. Everyone is in tip-top shape, which is needed as we play two games every single day.

“We’re all constantly pushing and motivating one another because it’s a team sport and without the ability to lean on each other, the foundation will just crumble.

“The team have come together really well and we are all Netball Bermuda regardless of where we come from. Our club teams are out the door and we have all united as the Bermuda Longtails.

“I believe we are prepared for whatever this tournament throws at us. I have to commend the coaching staff as they’ve had sleepless nights trying to find the best combinations to get a successful job done.

“This tournament is really important for us as we are without a ranking. Teams need to play eight matches every two years to maintain their ranking and this tournament allows us to get a minimum of eight all in one week.

“We will be putting Netball Bermuda back on the map after being out of the light for so long.”

Lightbourne has been pleased with how the players have gelled over the months of preparation.

“Training has gone well,” the vice-captain said.

“Looking back to July when we first kicked off, we have seen vast improvements with camaraderie, teamwork and then of course the tactical and physical side of the game.

“The last month or so we have taken it up another notch. We have worked hard and talked through a lot. We know we have done our best to be prepared for the challenge ahead.

“We know what is ahead of us, many back-to-back intense netball matches, but we will take it one match at a time and make the adjustments where necessary.

“These matches are incredibly important not just the squad, but for the netball community in Bermuda.

“We haven’t seen a senior national team travel for a while and most of the players in this team have never played at this level. We are unranked and far removed from the World Netball calendar.

“These matches will allow us to get ourselves back into that arena, gain a ranking and give the girls here in Bermuda something to work towards — that is both exciting and an honour.

“I think that we can do really well. We obviously won’t know too much more until we get there and step on the court, but the coaches have worked us hard so we know what we are capable of. I trust that we can get some good results.”