Jamaica $1mil. Pepsi Boost/Ties England In Series

The Jamaica Netball Association (JNA) recently received a cheque for J$1m from Pepsi-Cola Jamaica, through its brand Gatorade . Aside from the cash donation, Pepsi-Cola has reportedly also pledged an undisclosed quantity of Gatorade and Aqua Essential Purified Water products to hydrate the players during training camps and tournaments and has assisted with the construction of a study room at the association's home located in Barbican.

This is great news for the Caribbean's number one team. The question is what is happening with Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados since they qualified for the world tournament. I had heard that Trinidad is making some strides, importing coaches with international experience to help prepare the team.

But will the teams from the South do enough to catch their Northern counterparts who are ranked #4 in the world.

Jamaica just concluded a two game series with England. England won the first game and Jamaica fought back tooth and nail to win the second. It is obvious that Barbados and Trinidad will have to scouts out sponsors and play a number of competitive games if they are going to take more than a jolly ride to the World Games as all the top teams have already started their preparations.

Final Day AFNA

The 2010 Americas Federation of Netball Associations Championships in St. Lucia was one of the most competitive thus far. Each team gave a splendid account of themselves and some of the score lines really belied the skill and athleticism displayed on court.

All the teams have improved tremendously even Canada who did not win a game was no walk over, all the teams had to really play them to win.

On the final day, Barbados bounced back from their upset defeat against home team St. Lucia and went about the task of strengthening their goal average against Canada to secure 2nd place in the competition beating out the USA and St. Lucia.

This was made easy by what may have been a fluke for Barbados. With first line goal keeper Lisa Puckerin sidelined by injury, Laurel Browne was

put in this role and she played surprisingly beautifully. Canada was clearly not expecting her height in the circle as they switch out their tall goal shooter Sabrina Versteeg to GA for this game, starting GA Tiffanie Wolfe went to the WA position while Amanda Bonger played goal shooter.

Browne made so many interceptions that it totally released any pressure Canada may have brought to the game upfront. As usual Canada had a strong start, the first quarter score 15-10 in favour of Barbados. Barbados however got progressively stronger while Canada faded, the other intervals scores 29-18 and 45-27 reflected this. Barbados went on to win with a comfortable 60-31 margin.

The starting side for Barbados was Lydia Bishop GS, Nikita Piggott GA, Sabrina Browne WA, Sabrina Smith C, Kizzy Marville WD, Latoya Blackman GD with Browne at GK.

Shooting Stats: Bishop scored 34 of 39 goals for 87% while Piggot had 93% average scoring 26 of her 28 attempts.

For Canada GS Amanda Bonger scored 17 of 27 while Sabrina Verteeg scored 14 of 23.

USA finished 3rd in the competition. In their final game they defeated St. Vincent and the Grenadines 63-39. USA Goal Shooter, Georgina Hibbert who had an outstanding tournament netted 53 of her 57 attempts while goal attack Petra Williams scored 10 of 12. St. Vincent used a total of five shooters. Gailene Gordon, the starting shooter, netted 15 of 17 goals before she left the position at half time. Mary-Ann Federick had one quarter and she scored 9 of 12. In the last quarter Jasmine Frank scored 3 of 5. Tamara Samuel started at the goal attack position and she netted 9 of 10 goals while substitute Roseclair Hall scored 3 of 6.

Champions Trinidad and Tobago completed a clean sweep of the competition dispatching host country St. Lucia 58-45. The intervals scores all in favour of Trinidad were 14-11, 26-23 and 42-30. Up until half time St. Lucia looked to have a fighting chance however Trinidad switched gears and they did not have the gas to follow.

Shooting stats

Trinidad: Anastacia Wilson (GS) 49 of 52, Joelisa Cooper (GA) 5 fo 7 and substitute GA Janelle Barker 4 of 5.

St. Lucia : Dedra Mathurine (GS) 17 of 19, Shem Maxwell 13 of 15 and substitute GA Merlissa Alfred 15 of 17.

Day 4 AFNA Qualifiers

Home team St. Lucia dealt Barbados a knock-out 53-50 punch that has Barbados in jeopardy of missing a netball world championship for the first time due to not qualifying which would be a major set back in its world ranking. (President of the Barbados Netball Association, Octavia Gibson's reaction at the end of the game says it all.)

Playing at the Beausejour indoor facilities, Barbados posted another new line up which featured: Lydia Bishop (GS), Nikita Piggott (GA), Sabrina Smith (WA), Kizzy Marville (C), Tonisha Rock-Yaw (WD), Latoya Blackman (GD) and Lisa Puckerin at (GK). Barbados got out of the blocks early taking the first quarter 11-9. St. Lucia however went into another gear from the second quarter to which Barbados faltered in their response. Shakira Shepherd came into the game in the second quarter for Rock-Yaw who needed a time out. While Barbados adjusted, St. Lucia went into half time with an inspired 25-20 lead.

The third quarter saw more changes from Barbados. Samantha Browne was introduced at (WA) and she later changed with Kizzy to take up the centre position. Barbados was able to pull back 29-29 with this combination but did not have the fire power to go ahead. St. Lucia again taking over and finishing the third quarter with a three goal lead 37-34.

Everybody expected Barbados to make a grand come back in the final quarter like they did against the USA but this time the players on court did not have the depth to pull it off.

With Latoya out of the game Barbados finished with Shepherd at GD and Rock Yaw at WD. At the front too Piggott gave way to Nadia Blackman at GA. The sheer newness of this combination beat Barbados as they had no history to fall back on when the going got tough and the pressure was at its most intense. The players fought valiantly to the end but clearly the wrong combination of players were on court.

Shooting stats:

Lydia Bishop netted 29 of 35 , Nikita Piggott - 18 of 19 and Nadia Blackman scored a perfect 3 of 3.

For St Lucia: Deidre Maithurin scored 32 of 33 while Shem Maxwell scored 21 goals from 21 attempts.

When these two teams last met at the AFNA tournament in 2008 Barbados easily dispatched St. Lucia 54-35. St. Lucia scored another big victory against Barbados in 2001 in a Connie Francis coached side.

Results of other games played on Day 4 were:

St. Vincent & The Grenadines won against Canada 52-48
Trinidad & Tobago defeated the USA 49-34

Trinidad and Tobago will finish on top of the table today even if home country St. Lucia is able to pull another upset victory out of the bag. The second place team and the other team to qualify will be decided after the games today.

Day 3 AFNA World Qualifiers St. Lucia

Day 3 of the World Qualifiers could have been the final day of the AFNA tournament here in St. Lucia, as arch rivals faced off from Game One. The two teams from the North, Canada and the USA faced each other in game one.

Surprisingly it was Canada who got the early jump on the USA, leading for most of the game. USA however surfaced when it was most important to finish with a game winning 42-36. The interval scores all in favour of Canada were 13-9, 23-14 and 30-27.

Game two was close, physical and scrappy with a number of time outs. At the end home team St. Lucia emerged victorious 46-40 over St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

In the big match up for the evening, Trinidad and Tobago led from the get go and despite pressure from Barbados at intermittent intervals they never faltered leading all intervals 16 -11, 28-23 and 43-39 to finish with a comfortable 10 goal margin 59-49.

The starting line up for the teams were: Barbados - Lydia Bishop (GS), Nikita Piggott (GA), Sabrina Browne (WA), Samantha Browne (C), Kizzy Marville (WD), Lisa Puckering (GD) and Latoya Blackman at GK. Trinidad fielded: Anastacia Wilson (GS), Joelsia Cooper (GA), Rhonda John (WA), Krista Winchester (C), Candice Guererro (WD), Anika La Roche (GD) and Angel Ottley at GK.

Barbados again had lots of trouble on the attack, Sabrina Browne made a number of unforced errors and most times was shut out of the game. This should have been the second quarter change as Lydia Bishop was obviously ready for the game, moving well and playing very strong but was not getting the kind of support she needed from the attack to keep up a healthy momentum. Piggott along with Samatha Browne and Kizzy Marville who played an attacking more than defensive WD were key to production however this created a lot of pressure which could have been relieved with a genuine passer in the squad.

The key to Barbados' demise however came in the third quarter with some substitutions which really did not pan out and clearly took completely what little pressure was on Trinidad off. Barbados went with Lydia Bishop at GA and Laurel Browne at GS. Reminiscent of the old Sonia Banfield and Jennifer Forde in the goal circle days. It hardly worked back then and it certainly did not work this time. Barbados is definitely struggling to find its strongest line up.

My first team based on performance at the tournament: Lydia Bishop, Nikita Piggott, Sabrina Smith, Samantha Browne, toss up between Shepherd and Kizzy at WD (two different styles, effective differently depending on the game), Latoya Blackman and Lisa Puckerin.

Thanks for the commentary, good and indifferent. It lets me know someone is reading :-)

Day 2 AFNA World Qualifiers In St. Lucia

Day 2 provided lots of excitement for spectators as the competition was stiff, and the action nail bitting at the Beausejour indoor facility in St. Lucia for the Americas Federation of Netball Associations World qualifiers.

Game one was the most predictable. Trinidad and Tobago seized a slim 12-11 lead from St. Vincent and the Grenadines in the first quarter and built on it 25-21, 40-33 to finish with a clear ten goal cushion 53-43.

The second game Barbados vs USA was action packed. USA who clearly have arrived to upset the apple cart started confidently jumping to an early 13-8 goal lead. Barbados started with a new line up from their first match while USA kept their side unchanged. Barbados used Laurel Browne (GS), Nikita Piggott (GA) Nadia Blackman (WA), Samantha Smith (C), Shakira Shepherd (WD), Latoya Blackman (GD) and Lisa Puckerin (GK).

Laurel Browne did not have a good start to the game. She was unavailable and the attack looked very disorganised. USA on the other hand progressed smoothly, their shooter Georgina Hibbert, a tough six footer with some girth was not an easily match up for Puckerin but she did a commendable job again along with Blackman. USA maintained a slim one goal lead in the second quarter 21-22 and moved forward in the third after the changes, which Barbados' coach Alwyn Babb made, did not pan out (37-33).

The problem was not with his attack but with the shooter so the entry of Kizzy Marville at WD and Sabrina Browne at WA was to no effect since Laurel Browne just was not available in this game. Lydia Bishop having had a good look from the side lines came into the game in the last quarter and put the game beyond USA's reach, Barbados eventually making the game look easier than it really was with a handsome 11 goal differential (51-40). Shooting stats: Laurel Browne - 16 of 23, Nikita Piggott - 23 from 29 and Bishop a perfect 12 of 12.

For the USA: Georgina Hibbert scored 36 of 40 while the active Roneish Davis, USA's play maker scored 3 of 5. Tasha Browne, the last quarter substitute netted 1 of 3.

Home country St. Lucia pull off a keenly contested victory against Canada, 47 -45.

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.

Trinidad 2nd Place AFNA 2008

Trinidad and Tobago arrived for business and dispatched one of their chief rivals Barbados in their very first game. All the other games were a matter of course except for their final game against defending champions Jamaica.
In this games the subtle Trini flaws were exposed - their shooters inaccuracy and the holes in their defence. Trinidad moved the ball well, and were very explosive through the centre court, their main shooters Anastacia Wilson and Joelisa Cooper however struggled with their accuracy.

In fact the attacking players did so well in servicing the goal circle that Wilson had the most attempts of all the shooters in the competition, 179 and scored 150, she was 4th in the top ten shooters with 83.80 accuracy.

Cooper was 18th, however substitute shooter Samantha Wallace managed to hold on to the 10th position scoring 30 of 38 for 78.95%.

The exciting competitive play that was expected from Trinidad in the finals did not materialise. Jamaica out played, out hustled and easily dispatched them leaving the coaches to go back to the drawing board.

Statistics

241 goals for, 190 goals against, 313 attempts for, 250 attempts against, goal diference 51, goal average 1.27, accuracy 77%.

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.

Trinidad and Jamaica Winners on Day 4

Trinidad and Tobago defeated Canada 59-39 on Wednesday in the AFNA 2008 Championships but their performance was not convincing.  The Trinis came out blazing leading all intervals 16-2, 32-10 and 46-24.  

The Canadians despite losing all their games so far have been consistent and persistent.  They matched the Trinis 14-14 goals in the third quarter and won the final quarter 15-13.

St Vincent and the Grenadines suffered another defeat, this time at the hands of the Jamaicans. This really is no disgrace, however their fans were less than happy with their 21-58 performance.
 

Interval scores all in Jamaica's favour were 13-7, 24-12 and 16-46.

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)

Trinidad In With A Chance

Statistically, Trinidad and Tobago is in with a chance to win this year's AFNA Championships. 

Apart from Jamaica, they are they only unbeaten team left after two days of play.  Last night they dispatched St. Lucia 13-7, 25-12, 35-22 and 50-29. 

It was however not smooth sailing as their shooters went into some missing patches which gave St. Lucia pockets of hope, especially in the third quarter when they were able to pull back with six goals after Trinidad's convincing twelve goal half time lead.  The damage was however 

done by Trinidad's superior speed and defensive play. 

The Line-Ups:

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

St. Lucia - Barb Joseph - Theobalds (GS), Shem Maxwell (GA), Deselva Florton (WA), Roxanne Synder (C), Sherma Benti (WD), Michelle Rogers (GD) and  Jodie Mathurin (GK).

Trindad Team for AFNA Tournament

The Trinidad and Tobago team for the AFNA tournament next week in St. Vincent and the Grenadines includes:

captain Rhonda John-Davis, Anastica Wilson, Simone Morgan, Joeline Cooper, Samantha Wallace (shooters); Tricia Liverpool, Natalie Pierre, Candice Wallace (centres); Anika La Roche, Crystal Ann George, Kemba Duncan, Gabrielle Selman (defenders). The three reserves are Carlette Nurse, Adesha Norton and Tailah Wilson.

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

Netball In Tobago

This picture was taken from the Tobago News, click on it to read their story.

It was reporting on the Tobago Zone of the Trinidad and Tobago Secondary Netball league. While I was happy to see the young ladies exercising I was very dismay at their size.

Caribbean women we really have to take stock. The Diabetes Foundation is my client, and I am stunned at the Diabetes Statistic for Barbados and the rest of the Caribbean. We have to control our eating urges and exercise more self discipline and self love in our lives.

Caribbean Umpires In the Big League

Congratulations to Joel Young-Strong (Trinidad and Tobago) and Veronica Harris (Barbados) for being selected to umpire the upcoming Jamaica versus the Australia Institute of Sport Series.

The U21 series runs from June 23 to 30.

Dave Brown of Jamaica has been tipped for the return series in Australia.



(Joel Young - Strong of Trinidad)
















Dave Brown of Jamaica in the U16 championships

Veronica Harris of Barbados

Distinguished Netball Administrators- Her Excellency Joan Yuille - Williams, Trinidad and Tobago

I had promised to start featuring distinguished Caribbean netball administrators. Today I present Her Excellency Joan Yuille-Williams of Trinidad and Tobago.

Breaking News reports that "Her Excellency assumed duties as Ambassador Extraordinaire and Plenipotentiary with effect from January 11, 2008.

In her political career, she acted as Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago on several occasions and has held various Ministerial positions.

Her Excellency is an educator by profession and has lectured at the University of the West Indies School of Continuing Studies. She has also made contributions to community work and is the founder of the Les Enfants Sports and Cultural Club.

In the sporting arena she was the former President of the Trinidad and Tobago Netball Association and also managed the National Netball Team at the World Championships in Australia and Singapore."