Rhonda John-Davis has been selected for her sixth Netball World Cup.
The national captain will be making history for the "Calypso Girls" who will take on the best teams in the world in Liverpool, England from July 12-21.
"First of all, it is always an honour to represent your country and once you are selected to represent your country at the world stage it brings great pride not just to you alone but your family as well. It feels really good," said an excited John-Davis on the news that she was selected on the team on Saturday.
"For me, it's not just about being selected on a team, it's not just about making my sixth World Cup. Yes, it is an opportunity to bring history to T&T but it's not about that alone for me.
"I am very competitive and I want to be able to compete at that level and be able to bring back victory for T&T, to bring back the trophy for T&T and so that is what it is about competing with my teammates and being able to step up to do my part, to do what is expected of me."
Head coach Wesley "Pepe" Gomes expects much from his veteran player, who he says is key to the national unit for her leadership and experience.
"Rhonda brings stability to the team," said Gomes. "She brings to the team her knowledge and her expertise. She has a lot of influence on the players and they have great respect for her. She keeps them focused on the game.
"Rhonda is still playing at a very high level. The players did the Yo-Yo (endurance) test and they all exceeded the requirements with some reaching 20. Rhonda reached 19.1. She stuck with the younger ones."
Gomes stayed with most of the players that helped T&T qualify for the World Cup after playing unbeaten to win the Americas Federation of Netball Associations (AFNA) Qualifiers last year in Barbados including professional players Samantha Wallace and Kalifa McCollin, Shaquanda Greene, Candice Guerero, Tahirah Hollingsworth, Onella Jack-Hill, Daystar Swift and sisters Shantel and Shernece Seemungal.
"It is a well-balanced team," said Gomes. "Eight of them are under the age of 25, four are older and out of the eight, Samantha and Kalifa are playing at the highest level available at this time."
The newcomers include shooter/defender Jameela McCarthy and defender Tobagonian Aniecia Baptiste, both who have represented T&T at the youth level.
"Jameela comes in for Joelisa Cooper, who is presently part of the Fire Service recruitment unit and Baptiste comes in for Kemba Duncan due to injury," said Gomes. "Jameela can play on both ends of the court and Aneicia is a younger version of Kemba. She fit in well with the team. She is the perfect fit."
His captain agreed and said: "The combination is really good. We have a combination of youth an experience. The young players that transition from the Under-21 stage, they are really doing well. They have worked hard to be able to get selected on the senior team. They are really doing well. I am proud of each and every single one of the players that made the team and even the ones that were not selected.
"We worked hard, we pushed each other but it's only 12 people could go through. I am proud of that mix and I am just looking forward to the World Cup."
Gomes with support from his assistant coach Grace Parkinson-Griffith will be making full use of the limited time before the world event begins.
"We still have six weeks to go so we are going to intensify everything," said Gomes who critiqued his team against a men's team on Friday at the Jean Pierre Complex in Mucurapo.
Team: Jameela McCarthy, Aneicia Baptiste, Samantha Wallace, Kalifa McCollin, Shaquanda Greene, Candice Guerero, Tahirah Hollingsworth, Onella Jack-Hill, Rhonda John-Davis, Shantel Seemungal, Shernece Seemungal, Daystar Swift.
Staffe: Wesley "Pepe" Gomes (coach), Grace Parkinson-Griffith (assistant coach), Carol Demming (manager), Wayne Samuel (trainer)