Things Heating up for Commonwealth Games

Found this story. The heat is on for this year's Commonwealth Games. I am rallying around Jamaica all the way as the obvious Caribbean hopeful. I hope the new Barbadian coach, Alwyn Babb would have at least half the success he has had with his athletes. The following is a CMC report:

Australia’s netball coach Norma Plummer is wary of the shooting threat the Jamaican world star Romelda Aiken poses to them in clashes later this year.

World champions Australia Diamonds will be at home to Jamaica’s Sunshine Girls for a three-Test series in August before facing off at October’s Commonwealth Games in India where they are both pooled in the same group.

At 6-feet-5-inches, the 21-year-old Aiken is one of the world’s best shooters and Plummer concedes that because containing her is so difficult, it makes World No.4 Jamaica a very potent force.

“Romelda demands so much attention,” Plummer said.

“You are inclined to let their talented shooter Simone Forbes run a little bit to shut down the big pass going in. It really does put you at a disadvantage unless you’ve got the height to combat Romelda,” Plummer added.

The Test series between Australia and Jamaica starts on August 8 in Melbourne, followed by matches in Sydney (August 11) and the Gold Coast (August 15).

Jamaica advertised their current strength in Kingston last October when they registered wins over Australia and World No.2 New Zealand to secure 1-1 series results against the two powerhouses in world netball.

In the series against Australia, Jamaica lost the opening game 51-53 but rallied to win the second game 56-55 for their first win over Australia in 11 years.
Led by Aiken, the Sunshine Girls rebounded from a 56-61 defeat in their opening match against the New Zealand Silver Ferns to win the second match 53-50.

I am Back

Last year I stopped blogging right in the middle of the World Youth Netball Championship. It was because I had a very bad experience and I did not want to share it at the time with the world wide web. It was not pretty, it would not have done the sport I love so much any good so instead I decided to be quiet. I decided to let the edge wear off.

Now I can say no one should have been surprised at Australia's total devastation of the New Zealanders. New Zealand did not deserve to be in the finals but they were allowed there through bias umpiring. There I said it. As an umpire myself I try never to criticize officials but I found the selection of umpires very one-sided and borderline or full-line racial.

Malawi and Jamaica's opportunity to be in the finals was stolen from them both against an overly aggressive and less talented New Zealand team. The Kiwis were not however allowed the same dangerous unsportsmanlike play against Australia who were in my books truly the best team in the competition. I really admired how the Aussie coach used her team which was strong down to her 12th player as exhibited when her goal attack received an unfortunate injury in the semi-finals ( A big Congrats Australia, you were a picture of grace and true talent, sportsmanlike to the last play. Your game was really a great testimony to the great sport of Netball.)

I am looking forward to the day when we as a people can truly see pass colour. See the beauty, the strength, the grace in each other.

My hope and pray for my sport this year is for the World to go into this new decade truly open- minded. And that the superiority/inferiority will be demonstrated through good play on court rather than by bigotry.

World U21 Netball Cook Islands

The World U21 Netball Championships are on the beautiful Pacific Island of Rarotonga.  One of the fifteen islands that make up the Cook Islands, it is populated with some of the warmest people I have met anywhere in the world.

For my update on how the three Caribbean countries are doing in the world tournament, click on the below link.

http://netballshots.prmrinc.net/

Barbados Hosts Scotland, England and St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Join me on Netball Shots new location for the most up-to-date coverage on the Barbados Goodwill Series featuring Scotland, England, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and host Barbados.

Click for link.

CNA Jean Pierre Youth U 16 Tournament Highlights

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