Under16 Again

Now I know that my blog is really being read. I have had so many calls, facebook messages, emails etc. asking what is happening here in St. Kitts that I feel obliged to add something to the site. Work, study and other commitments have driven me into tired sleepy silence. After this post however some people will probably wish I had stayed away.

My first post was going to be about the Jean Pierre CNA U16 tournament here in St. Kitts and how St. Lucia doing the dog upsetting both Trinidad and Barbados and then what should pop up on my whiteberry but news about the Jamaican U16 team (the defending champions of this tournament no less) defeating Birmingham 43-10 somewhere in Jamaica. Now tell me what is wrong with that story? Netball is in a state in the Caribbean. Jamaica feel that they don’t need to play the rest of the Caribbean (well this goes way back) because we are not good enough, well hell yes we need lots of work, but this is our region and unless we stick together and constructively help each other then we as a region will never be good enough.

Bad enough that the international body has had a president from the region for the longest while and yet we are no better off. What does that say.? I understand that there are no challengers for the position internationally but why should there be when Massa can just sit back and pull puppet strings.

Jamaica Observer Cartoon

Found this hilarious. Published by the Observer after the recently concluded Jamaica/England Series.

AFNA Championships St. Lucia

Host country St. Lucia suffered a heart wrenching 42-38 defeat at the hands of USA in the first major upset of the tournament on the very first day of the Americas Federation of Netball Associations (AFNA) Qualifiers at the Beausejour indoor facility in St. Lucia.

A mere six teams are featured in the tournament vying for the right to attend the world championships next year in Singapore. Jamaica has already qualified. Teams (St. Lucia, Barbados, Canada, USA, St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) and Trinidad and Tobago)

The Saint Lucia

national netball squad: Merlessa Alfred, Miryam Augustin, Deselva Florton, Glatta Gabriel, Niocse Louis, Shem Maxwell, Judy Mathurin, Dedra Mathurin, Michelle Rodgers, Delia Samuel, Roxanne Synder, and Saphia William; with Rebecca Flemius (manager), Anthony Lamontagne (coach), and Donnalynn Joseph (Assistant Coach).

The USA side allegedly is packed with Jamaicans who played top level netball in their home country. Other nationalities quoted are Australians, Trinidadians and Barbadians. Barbadian Beverley Morris- Giles (a former national netballer) is on the sidelines as Manager (more on the players names later). USA led all the intervals but in the last quarter St. Lucia on two occasions had the opportunity to move ahead but failed to do so.

Barbados had their first victory at a championship under its new coach Alwyn Babb. Starting a little shaky against arch rivals St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the Barbados line up featured, Lydia Bishop GS, Nikita Piggott GA, Sabrina Browne (WA), Sabrina (C), Kizzy Marville (WD), Latoya (GD) and Lisa Puckerin (GK).

Bishop surprisingly was ordinary, the St. Vincent GK really had an outstanding game. It was Nikata Piggott who was awesome doing all the work outside and transitioning smoothly to the shooting position taking the pressure off Bishop when she clearly appeared frustrated on occasions. It was my first time seeing Sabrina Browne at wing attack and with all the fuss back in Barbados about this position, I would say Barbados is clearly still looking. In this game Sabrina was clearly out of her depth but her little sister Samatha who was her substitute (she went to centre while the other Sabrina went WA) is clearly cut out for top level competition. The defensives were also very outstanding keeping Barbados in the game while the attack tried to sort themselves out.

It was with this change that Barbados demonstrated that they were a cut above St. Vincent easily defeating that team 57-33. The scores at the intervals - 11-10 SVG; 24-21 (B'dos) and 40-25 (B'dos). Barbados scored 6 straight goals after the half time change. A no brainer change if you ask me. (Bishop scored 31 of 39 and Piggott 26 of 31) (SVG Janelle Frank was limited to 14 of 18 and Gaylene Gordon 19 of 24)

The other winner on the night was Trinidad and Tobago who dispatched Canada 48-36.

Under 16 Barbados

Could not start the AFNA qualifiers without congratulating Jamaica on winning the Jean Pierre CNA under 16 tournament in Barbados.

Easily the weakest Jamaica under 16 team I have seen in a long while (no giants nor overly athletic looking, could pass for seniors girls) it tells us how far the rest of the Caribbean have to go to catch up to Jamaica not just on skills but on pure guts and determination.

Photographer Grantley Sealy has kindly shared his photos from the tournament with me which will be placed on this site in an album at the end of the month so look out for it. For prosterity, The final standing were:

1st Jamaica

2nd Barbados

3rd Trinidad and Tobago

4th St. Lucia

5th St. Vincent and the Grenadines

6th Grenada

7th Dominica

In the Group B section Bermuda demonstrated some impressive skills to place 1st, Guyana who played in the top group last year were second, St. Kitts 3rd and the Cayman Island 4th.

CNA Jean Pierre Youth U 16 Tournament Highlights

For all your highlights of the U16 Tournament in Jamaica go to www.netballshots.prmrinc.net.

SunShine Girls Gloom

England knocked all the sunshine out of Jamaica, white washing them in their three match series.

The England Captain on the Sky blog said that "It has been a great week for us, winning 3-0 in The Co-operative International Netball Test Series against Jamaica. " She said that Jamaica had improve but so had they.

It will be the u21s turn to bring some glory back to Jamaica in their series later this month against Australia.

Jamaica Off the Block for 2009

The Jamaica National Netball Team is reportedly off to Newscastle to "boot camp" to acclimatised for a three match series against England next month.

President of the JNA Marva Bernard is reported in the Gleaner as saying that some of the girls have never experienced the type of cold that an English winter presents and that the camp in Newcastle would help with the preparation.

She said "It is also going to be a lot of concentration, mind preparation and not much netball is going to be played. It is all going to be about physical and mental-fitness preparation in very cold conditions and this will also be a time for the girls to bond together."

Hallelujah! I give Jamaica 100% for this. You are the flagship of Caribbean Netball take yourself seriously. Although Netball is an amateur sport the big countries operate very professionally and we must too as well in the Caribbean if we are going to be competitive.

The first match will be played on the January 23, the second on the 25 and the third is set for two days later. No venue has yet been announced for the matches.

Jamaica is ranked after England even though they defeated them in the last World Championships. I am routing for Jamaica to take back their ranking. Good luck Sunshine Girls.

I leave you with this quote from Bernard which I think that I will place permanently on this blog:

“In order to beat the best we have to play the best continuously, because you can't beat the best by playing teams that are weaker than you, then you will run the risk of lowering your standards,"

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. )

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.

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.

Molly's On Another Committee

IFNA and AFNA President Molly Rhone has just been named to a 13 member Anti-Doping commission (JADCO) in Jamaica.  As if this well decorated Caribbean woman have anymore time in her calender.  The Commission is chaired by head of the University of Technology, Prof. Errol Morrison.

The three year board will form part of the Jamaica's  Government efforts to combat illicit drugs in sports.

Jamaica AFNA Champions 2008

Congratulations to Jamaica, AFNA Champions 2008.

It was not the strongest Jamaica team that was ever fielded.  In fact one might argue that it is the weakest senior team Jamaica has fielded for a long time, however what was important is that they got the job done.  This Jamaica second side was able to dispatch all the teams in the competition which is tell tale to the distance between the "Sunshine Girls" and the rest of the teams in the Americas.

The conductor/director/playmaker for  Jamaica clearly was their captain Simone Forbes.   Discipline aside or lack thereof, Forbes was in a class of her own in the competition.  Yes the team beat St. Lucia without her, but this was the first day of competition and the St. Lucian side was not very strong in this competition.  

The game between Trinidad may however been another story without her leadership and cunning.  Forbes challenged all the rules in the book.  She played the controversial hitting the goal pole with the ball on a throw in and retrieving it herself in nearly every game, which of course made the spectators roar as this play, although legitimate, looks very suspect.  

A real positive for Jamaica, they have a number of very talented young players on the way up who should ensure Jamaica's netball dominance in the future.  This was evident in the defensive area where the tough young players Tracy Robinson and Nicole Aiken held their own, succeeding in ensuring that their team had the best defensive record of just allowing 169 attempts to the opposition, an average of just 27 goals a game.

Another future bright spark for Jamaica was their 6ft shooter Crystal Gordan who ended 9th overall in shooting average.  She scored 103 from 125.  Christina Solmon was 8th scoring 66 from 80 and Forbes was 7th netting 91 of 110.

Stats

286 goals for, 126 goals against.  350 attempts for, 169 attempts against, goal difference 160, goal average 2.27.  Shooting accuracy 81.71%

Jamaica Are AFNA Champions 2008

Jamaica maintain their dominance over Caribbean netball defeating Trinidad and Tobago 53-32 at the Arnos Vale Complex this evening.  The world's number four team lead all the intervals 18-7, 28-16 and 42-25 in a very physical encounter.  

Simone Forbes was the difference between the teams.  She totally dominated the Jamaica's attack and none of Trinidad's defences provided her with any major challenge.  She finished her tour scoring 27 of 30.  Jamaica tried three shooters Crystal Gordon who started netted 20 of 28, Vanessa Walker scored 3 of 4 and Christina Solmon made 3 of 3.  For Trinidad Anastascia Wilson shot 27 of 33 while Joelisa Cooper netted 5 of 10.

Third place in the competition went to Barbados who barely turn up against Canada.  The Bajan did just enough to defeat the persistent Canadians 59-44.  Barbados led all the intervals 15-9, 32-18, and 48-31.  Barbados used three shooters Laurel Browne scored 23 of 26, Lydia Bishop who started scored 18 of 19 and reserve Nikita Piggott netted 18 of 21.

The upset of the evening came when  St. Lucia defeated home team St. Vincent and the 

Grenadines 40-38.   St. Lucia led the first quarter 15-8, but St. Vincent came back 23-22 at half time.  St. Lucia took over 32- 30 and held on for the nail bitting two gaol victory.

AFNA Championships - Tuesday Round Up

St. Lucia, Trinidad and Jamaica were the victors on day three of the AFNA 2008 Championships at the Arnos Vale Complex, St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

In game one St. Lucia defeated Canada 47-41 in a keenly contested encounter.  The game was level 14-14 at the first interval but St. Lucia played their best netball in the second quarter to take a 28-19 lead.  This was the turning point in the game because although Canada gave a good account of themselves for the balance of the game the battle had already been won.

Starting Line Up -Canada

Sabrina Versteeg (GS), Maralyn Hope (GA), Jessie Evans (WA), Narm Thavarsalingam (C), Rebekah Eaton (WD) Shawnette Cockburn (GD), Sonja Salbuvik (GK)

St. Lucia 

Shem Maxwell (GS), Roxanne Synder (GA), Miryam Austin (WA), Deselva Florton (C), Romella Hunte (WD), Michelle Rogers (GD) and Judie Mathurin (GK).

In Game Two Barbados and Jamaica exchanged body blows.  At one stage the two teams were called to the centre of the field and warned by the umpire.  Jamaica won 52-35 but it was not easy.  The scores at the intervals were 18-7, 30-17 and 42-31 all in Jamaica's favour. 

 

A consolation for Barbados was winning the third quarter 14-12 against the Titans.  The Bajan shooters shot well but were not well serviced.  Laurel Browne started and scored 8 of 

10 in the first and second quarters and her replacement Lydia Bishop scored 14 of 14.  For Jamaica, Simone Forbes took control of the game scoring 21 of 26 while shooters Crystal Gordan and Christina Solmon scored 26 of 30 and 5 of 7 respectively.

The Line Ups

Barbados

Laurel Browne (GS), Nikita Piggott (GA), Dionne Quarless (WA), Sabreena Smith (C), Kizzy Marville (WD), Sherry Martindale (GD) and Rhe-Ann Niles (GK)

Jamaica

Crystal Gordan (GS), Simone Forbes (GA), Nadine Bryan (WA), Nichala Gibson (C), Tracey Robinson (WD), Nicole Aiken and Malysha Kelly

In Game Three Trinidad and Tobago continued their unbeaten streak defeating home team St. Vincent and the Grenadines 41-33.    St. Vincent took the early 11-8 lead but faltered in the second allowing Trinidad to go ahead 21-17.  

The Trinis built on this 37-25 in the third.

Starting line ups

St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Leeana Lewis (GS), Nicole Sandy (GA), Shanique DeShong (WA), Saska Diamond (C), Maxine James (WD), Curla Francis-Edwards (GD) and Vasha Adams (GK)

Trinidad and Tobago

Anastascia Wilson (GS), Joelisa Cooper (GA), Rhonda John (WA), Tricia Liverpool (C), Kemba Duncan (WD), Crystal George (GD) and Anika La Roche (Gk)

Jamaica Up Two Games - Canada Down Two

Last Night Jamaica looked larger than life in the AFNA tournament as their captain Simone Forbes was back leading the ship after completing other national duties in the 12th Caribbean Volleyball Champions in Barbados.

This time the team made no first quarter blunders as they did against St. Lucia, the interval scores were 17-5, 33-9, 50 - 14 and they finally won by a whopping 69 of 17.

Jamaica starting line up was Crystal Gordan (GS), Simone Forbes (GA), Nadine Bryan (WA), Tracey Robinson (C), Nichala Gibson (WD), Kelly Malysha (GD) and Nicole Aiken (GK).  

Canada started with Sabrina Versteeg (GS),

 Maralyn Hope (GA), Narm Thavarasalingam (C), Rebekah Eatmon (WD), Shawnette Cockburn (GD), and Sonja Salbuvik (GK).

Canada used their two shooters for the entire game.  Versteeg was way below par making herself available for just 5 attempts of which she scored two.  Maralyn Hope always active and attacking had a hard fought 22 of 15.

In Jamaica's case captain Forbes played three globe trotter style quarters.  One of the Caribbean's best, she made light work of her 20 of 24.  

Reserve Vanessa Walker was given the second quarter and contributed 3 of 3, while goal shooter Crystal Gordan scored 27 of 29 and reserve shooter Christina Solmon netted 19 of her 22. 

AFNA Championships - Monday Schedule Preview

The big game today will be against host St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Barbados who are ranked 12th and 11th in the world respectively, at 6:45pm.  I would give the edge to St. Vincent who have home court advantage.  Barbados however will be fighting to remain seeded ahead of its nemesis St. Vincent, these two know each other well and have a long history of fighting for Caribbean supremacy. 

Take Jamaica out of the equation, for the Eastern Caribbean, this is one of the unofficial finals, last night's game between Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados was another.  Starting from their historic three way tie in Antigua in 1992, which was repeated the following year, these three teams are the teams to step up their administration and game and take the Caribbean up the world ranking.

Trinidad takes on St. Lucia in the the second game at 6:15pm.  They are expected to win, but judging from St. Lucia's first quarter against Jamaica, the Trinidadians cannot take this very defensive team for granted.

In the first game of the evening, the Canadians will be staring at their second defeat as they take on the world's fouth seeded team, Jamaica.  I suspect that coach Francis will use her full under 21 squad for this game.  Last night she used four against St. Lucia.  I think an acid test of the strength of the rest of teams in the tournament will be how many of Jamaica's seven under 21s that their are grooming for next year's worlds, will they be able to play against the other countries first teams.  This also says a lot about the wide gap between Jamaica and the rest of the Americas.

Netballers - Volleyballers For AFNA

At least two of the netballers selected for the AFNA tournament are currently in Barbados competing at the 12th Caribbean Volleyball Championships.

Rhea-Ann Niles of Barbados had the upper hand on Jamaica's captain Simone Forbes when their teams clashed earlier this week.

Forbes will however be expecting to revenge Jamaica's defeat in neighbouring St. Vincent when the Caribbean netball powerhouse take on Barbados next week in the AFNA Championships.

It is great to see Associations being more open to athletes competing in more than one sport. In my day we had to choose and the sport was poorer for it because with our small populations it is difficult to outfit teams without drawing on the same very talented individuals.

Will Netball Ever Become an Olympic Sport?

The debate continues about netball making it to the Olympics. Although a reported 20 million women play netball in over 70 countries it still hasn't made it to the Olympics and why should it - to give Australia or New Zealand a sure Olympic goal medal?

I have been involved in netball for the last 25 years and the same teams dominate the top, they are serious barriers at all levels not just in terms of actually physical standard of play but in the rules of the games and its officiating. I look on and have a great belly laugh when I read of the umpiring problems happening down under.

We in the Caribbean have just 4 international umpires, two men from Jamaica, Dalton and Chris, and two ladies, one from Barbados, Marion, and the other from Trinidad and Tobago Anne Marie. The region has not had another umpire qualified in almost five years. How so?

I do not know what the criteria is for becoming an Olympic sport , maybe when I have some time I will explore this however in terms of netball I can write the script for future Olympic Games once we are approved. Six teams qualify for Olympics based on the new seeding developed by those countries who the format benefits. The little old Caribbean countries cannot afford to travel to some tournaments so despite their skill they remain unseeded. The Olympic Games teams on every occasion will thus be Australia, New Zealand, England, Jamaica, South Africa, maybe on occasion Papua New Guinea, Cook Island, Fiji and Samoa. And maybe on the odd occasion a Malawi, Barbados or Trinidad might sneak in.

Anyway, if you feel strongly about netball being an Olympic Sport join the Face Book group and agitate.

Jamaica, St. Vincent, Barbados and Trinidad among the Best In the World

There are currently four Caribbean Teams in the top twelve in the world. Our region rivals Oceania which has powerhouses like New Zealand and Australia and infinite resources behind netball. No male sport in the Caribbean can boast of this distinction. Our women are talented and we have been surviving on talent alone, it is time that we get some serious monetary and infrastructural injection to make the sport really come alive. We in the Eastern Caribbean are starving for resources, unlike cricket we have not found a Sir Allen.

	Team	Played	Weighted	Points	Rating
1	Australia	40	29	4,888	169
2	New Zealand	40	30	4,714	157
3	England	45	31	4,350	140
4	Jamaica	36	26	3,447	133
5	Malawi	17	14	1,666	119
6	Samoa	19	16	1,889	118
7	Trinidad & Tobago	20	20	2,181	109
8	Fiji	19	15	1,591	106
9	South Africa	33	27	2,753	102
10	Cook Islands	10	10	953	95
11	Barbados	20	16	1,443	90
12	St Vincent & The Grenadines	12	9	810	90

Jamaica's Squad to the AFNA Tournament

Jamaica will be looking to take this year's AFNA tournament scheduled for St. Vincent and the Grenadine July 18-26.

The Caribbean's highest ranking netball side has seven under 21s on the team which they will be blooding for next year's world youth championship. Despite this, given their level of exposure to netball at the highest level, (the Australian Institute of Sport was just in Jamaica) they will fancy their chances of easily sweeping the lesser financially equipped and internationally exposed Eastern/ Southern Caribbean sides.

Simone Forbes is the captain and the seven under 21 are are: Goal shooter Christina Solmon, who also represented the country at last year's World Championships in Auckland, New Zealand, Crystal Gordon, Vanessa Walker, Malysha Kelly, Sabrina Spence, Sateva Taylor and Tracey-Ann Robinson.

Senior team members are: vice-captain Nadine Bryan, Nichala Gibson, Nicole Aiken and Samantha Mundle. The team's coach is former national shooter Connie Francis, assistant, Antoinette Daley.