What's Good For Africa!!

As reported by SABC News
http://www.sabcnews.com/sport/other/0,2172,174666,00.html

" Netball South Africa has roped in one of the world's leading authorities on the game to turn around the fortunes of the national team. A former coach of the New Zealand team, Lyn Gunson, is attending the National Netball Championships in Tshwane this week.

Netball is one of the biggest participant sports in South Africa. Yet the Proteas are struggling at number six on the world rankings. They lost to Malawi at the world championships last year.

Gunson says South Africa has a lot of talent and will be able to yet again become one of the top three netball playing nations. Gunson conducted a workshop for provincial coaches before the start of the championships and will also spend some time with the coach of the national team, Karin Strauss."

Barbados and a number of other islands could do with this kind of help!!!

Barbados Loses First Test to South Africa

Barbados suffered their first defeat in their three test series against South Africa last night. The SABC news reports that the Proteas beat their opponents 43-34 in the first test in the Spar Challenge series played at the Good Hope Centre in Cape Town.

The South African coach was able to give 11 of her 12-member squad playing time. Although South Africa lost possession at times they remained in control throughout the match.

No specifics on the Bajans were given however it would appear that they had a pretty decent third quarter.

Helen of the West Champions

Digicel Elite Strikers are the Helen of the West Champions. They fended off a stiff challenge from X-ceed to win the 2008 Helen of the West Netball club championships this past weekend.

Elite led the first two quarters 15-10, 24-23 at the Beausejour Indoor Facility before X-ceed of St. Vincent & the Grenadines (SVG), battled into a 37-34 third-quarter advantage.

Elite Strikers then went on 14-6 in the last frame to win with a final score of 48-43.

For Elite Strikers, Glatta Gabriel scored 15 of 20 attempts and Shem Maxwell 33 of 37 attempts. X-ceed’s scoring was led by Tamara Samuel (19/26) and Jasmin Frank (24/29).

In a play-off for third place, St Lucia’s Shamrock beat the Barbados Workers Union 47-35. The Barbadians led at the first quarter 9-8 before Shamrock turned the tables at the remaining intervals 21-13, 34-25.

Barbara Theobalds scored 44 of 48 attempts for Shamrock and Melissa John three of five.

Scoring for BWU were Andrea Puckerin (20/28), Renee Rudder (9/15) and Monique James (6/9).

Netballers Ready to Face Barbados

21 October 2008
Linda Moreotsene

The Sowetan reports that the South African national netball team is applying the final touches before their first Test match against Barbados tomorrow in Cape Town.

Griqualand West centre court player Liezel Wium was named captain of the team last week, with Precious Mthembu vice captain.

Wium, 31, is experienced and has spent two years playing in New Zealand, one of the world’s top netball countries.

To read the full story go to

http://www.sowetan.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=867103

Good Luck Mary and the BWU Team!

Best of luck to Mary Vaughn and her Barbados Workers Union Team who are currently in St. Lucia for the Helen of the West (HOW) Tournament. The team travelling robs me of my weekly umpiring exercise but I am very proud of what Mary along with the help of Joan Scantlebury, both of whom I have known since my secondary school days, have accomplished with Barbados' biggest out of season netball tournament.

Star Publising reports that this year's HOW tournament which runs from Oct. 11 - 18 promises to be exciting and competitive. The tournament is being played at the Beausejour Indoor Practice Facility and is the Fifth Annual HOW Festival.

HOW began as a sports tourism initiative between the St Lucia National Netball Association and the St Lucia Tourist Board in 2003. This year, seven teams will compete for the championship purse of US$3000.00: X-Ceed Sports Club from St Vincent & the Grenadines; Barbados Workers Union Club; Army Netball Team and Royal Air Force Netball Team from the UK. St Lucia is represented by Avengers, Digicel Elite Strikers and Shamrock.

Defense Force of Trinidad & Tobago who are co defending champions along with Digicel Elite Strikers, will not be there to defend their title. Another club from Jamaica also opted out due to high travel costs. The format for the tournament will be a seven team round robin followed by a playoff round.

BNA President Off to IFNA Meeting

President of the Barbados Netball Association Octavia Gibson has racked up a load of frequent flyer miles this year. From Singapore, Argentina, Manchester and the US, Gibson will now be attending the IFNA board meeting in Manchester, England, from October 17 to 19.

Items on the agenda include final decisions on the dates for the World Youth Netball Champions in Cook Islands in 2009; a showcase of the shortened form of netball by the England team; Commonwealth Games 2010; World Netball Competition, Singapore 2011; appointment of panels and committees and the net effect development programmes.

I am all for the miles but at the end of the day Octavia please champion the region's cause. I do not know what Annette achieved in her time and knowing her, she will probably read this blog the second it has been posted so she can enlighten us, however the region is badly in need of an advocate. We have made little to no progress having Molly Rhone from Jamaica as President of IFNA, if I am wrong then Molly please inform Netball Shots of your accomplishments.

All these ladies are great but the region is calling for results. We have gone backward, our individual world ranking speaks for itself. I was proud to be on the Barbados world championship team Scotland that ranked 6th in the world, Jamaica was 5th. Barbados is now struggling at 11th and only Trinidad and Jamaica are on the radar where world ranking is concerned even St. Vincent is struggling. The region needs a major intervention if netball is going to survive. Not only from the perspective of our world ranking but losing sports find it very hard to attract sponsorship and new players, everyone loves a winner. Netball in the region has to chart a winning course.

Bajans Off to South Africa

Barbados has named it squad for the upcoming SPAR Challenge 3 test series in South Africa from October 22 to 25. It contains three new comers from the last team which came third in the AFNA tournament.

According to a Nation Newspaper report today the squad includes: Laurel Browne, Lisa Puckerin, Nikita Piggott, Kizzy Marville, Sabrina Smith, Shekira Boxill, Dionne Quarless, Natalie Miller, Lydia Bishop, Sherry Martindale, Shakira Springer, Janelle Sealy, Harriet Waithe (senior coach), Sandra Bruce-Small (assistant coach), Sonia Moore (manager) and Andrew Simpson (primary care/physiotherapist)

Newcomers are former Barbados Under-16 captain Shakira Springer, Shekira Boxill and Natalie Miller who have replaced Springer Memorial schoolgirl Jeneice Clarke, captain Don Small and Rhe-Ann Niles who have returned to the United States.

Barbados Netball Association president Octavia Gibson is reported as having said that "this should be a very competitive series since South Africa are ranked ninth and Barbados 11th in the world" and that it was critical for Barbados as they seek to earn a place among the Top 12 nations which will be competing at the 2010 Commonwealth Games. The team leaves on Friday afternoon.

This all begs the question. Where did the Barbados Netball Association suddenly find the money. How come Barbados can find the funds to go all the way to South Africa to play one country and could not meet their obligation to Singapore just about two months ago?

Business House Leagues Take Over

Most of the regular leagues have ended and it is time for the business houses to do there thing. Really these out of season leagues are where all the fun is for some reason.

In Barbados the Workers Union League is in full swing with a number of new teams this year. It will go straight to the end of the year. More on this coming.

In Jamaica Defending champion General Accident extended their 100 percent win record in the Business House Netball Associations Locker Room super league recently and looks sets to take the title again this year according to all reports.

Jamaica is due to see some international action as well later in the year.