My Views On the Jamaica Tri-Series

My friends have been asking me why I haven't commented on the games in Jamaica. Well I haven't because I really have mixed feeling about the tournament and although this is my blog and my views, I still try not to be overly biased (even if I appear to be).

Since you forced me here are my thought. I consider myself a CARICOM national. Maybe this is because I was fortunate to go to university in Jamaica and live with some of the best minds in the Caribbean on the Mona Campus. So I get really pissed off when I see Caribbean people not using their collective wisdom, not collaborating and being played (literally and figuratively) for fools.

Here are some of the questions that I have. Before Barbados took the excursion in South Africa did they think of playing Trinidad and Jamaica beforehand to prepare? Did they consider that their ranking would be at stake?

I read that Trinidad was optimistic about their performance in Jamaica. From where did this optimism come? What has Trinidad done in the line of preparing for competition since the Caribbean Tournament?

Did they consider that their own ranking would be at stake? Did they stop over in Barbados on their way to Jamaica to get some practice matches? Well everyone knows by now the outcome of the tournament.

I read that the spectator turn out was poor. What level of promotion did Jamaica do?

In my estimation the only team benefiting from the tri-series was South Africa. Even Jamaica although they appear to be the victors, were losers -the spectator turn out was poor and in the final match South Africa matched them up to the third quarter and then faded.

Of course Jamaica has been tooting that they are playing a number of under 21s in preparation for next year's world championships but you can bet your bottom dollar that South Africa must be as well.

As a matter of fact the South African coach is reported to have said that the tri-series was "mission accomplished" they had intended to reach the final and to move up in the world ranking and they did both.

Congrats South Africa. However there is no pleasure in this tournament for me as a CARICOM national.

The only positive thing coming out of the tournament for us in the Caribbean is that we have two new IUAs.

Joel and Dave love you guys and I am very happy for you. You both deserve it!

(Pictures above are of Joel Young-Strong (Trinidad) and Dave Brown (Jamaica), the Caribbean's newest international umpires).

Log Edited for Clarification( For persons reading the original version of this post. Testing (IUA) can be done at different time frames. This was not my prior understanding. )

Becoming An IUA

Deborah Lynch Theobalds sent me this clarification on IUA recently:

Pam
I read your blog and felt that I should clear up some misunderstandings. There are no grades for an IUA, the grades are for TID'S working towards becoming an IUA.

The tiers are as follows:

Tier 1. IUA Endorsed Umpires mentored by IUC

Tier 2. Unendorsed IUA Umpires who are in training under the mentoring of an IUC Member (s) and who may reach a standard which qualifies them for further testing.

Tier 3. National Badge holders who have been identified as exceptionally talented and regularly working with IUC towards screening

Tier 4. National Badge holders who are talent identified for further training .

Barbados Drop In Ranking

Thanks to their dismal adventure in South Africa, Barbados has dropped one place in the world ranking.  This should be in a lesson in preparation.  

We need to take the sport and the country we represent to heart rather than our own personal agendas.  

Is there going to be any level of accountability for this, or is it just one of those things that goes unquestioned?

Caribbean Umpires Have A Shot At IU Badge

From my understanding Jewel Young Strong, and Dave Brown will have a shot at attaining their international umpire's badge during the tri series in Jamaica this week. Both of them are excellent umpires and I wish them all the best.

Pity I could not have joined you but I will be serving a higher purpose working with the Diabetes Global Village in Barbados this Week.

Good Luck Guys!

Gosh it is about time someone else from the region got the crown jewel. ( It's been about five year now since Chris got his badge, the last Caribbean umpire to qualify).

As a very prominent netball administrator is quoted as saying "Ya mean that our umpires can't even qualify as a grade three international umpire?"

Yes there are grades. Will have Deborah Lynch explain the system some time later.

Also check out my health blog www.caribbeanwellness.blogspot.com this is where I will be this week.

South Africa Has A Good Chance Against Trinidad

The South African teams leaves for Jamaica today for the tri-series (Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, South Africa) and Sports 24 reports that the Bajan Coach, Harriet Waithe said after her team's series against South Africa that she believed the Proteas had a good chance against Trinidad and Tobago.

From umpiring the final game Jamaica vs Trinidad in the AFNA Championships this year. I would say that if South Africa only have a "good chance" at beating Trinidad then they have no hope of beating Jamaica at home.

Click on the picture for the entire story.

St. Kitts Business League Gets Going

The St. Kitts Sun reports that ten teams are competing in the 2008 St. Kitts Business Netball League, which started last Saturday in Netball City.

Competing Organisations: Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB), St. Kitts/Nevis Anguilla National Bank (NB), Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College, Kajola, St. Kitts/Nevis Development Bank, Cable & Wireless, Government Mix, Reeds Data Services and the Customs Department.

Click on the photo for the St. Kitts Sun Article.

Of Barbados, South Africa and Jamaica

While I took some time off for my PRSA International Conference in Detriot you all would have heard else where of Barbados being blanked in their three match series in South Africa.

The South Africans of course used them for their style of play as a warm up to their triangular series in Jamaica this month against Jamaica and Trinidad. I hope Barbados would have made some use of the opportunity and learnt something as well. I also hope to see at least 8 of the players that were in the squad going forward to next year's tournaments. Barbados need some continuity for growth.

It has been reported that Jamaica's National coach Connie Francis sees this month's triangular series in her hometown which runs from Nov 10 to 13 as an opportunity to improve her country's world ranking.

Jamaica finished 3rd at last year's world championships in New Zealand, and are ranked 4th behind Australia, New Zealand and England.

South Africa will probably field the same team they used at home against Barbados which included:
Liezel Wium (Captain)Precious Mthembu (Vice-Captain)Mary NgwenyTsakane MbeweRefiloe MochakaNontle GwavuErin BurgerSimone van HeerdenAnnemarie FrostZukelwa CwabaClaudia BassonZanele MdodaneAmanda MynhardtKgomotso ItlhabanyengBongiwe Msomi