The Jean Pierre Complex in Mucurapo will be abuzz with activities from July 14-21 when the T&T Netball Association (TTNA) hosts the Americas Federation of Netball Associations (AFNA) Championships. This was announced at the launch of the event at the VIP Lounge at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo, yesterday. The upcoming Championships got its stamp of approval from Minister of Sport Anil Roberts, who in his address pointed out the benefits of T&T hosting and the “Calypso Girls” playing well at the event. “The best advertisement for our sport, to get this sport going, is our players and how they play,” said Roberts. “The netball way forward is now. This is the beginning of the development thrust to take us back to the top of the world.” T&T will match skills against eight other countries including top-ranked “Sunshine Girls” from Jamaica, Barbados, Bermuda, Canada, Guyana, St Lucia, USA and Grenada. “From game one, how we play, the flare with which we play, the camaraderie, the fitness, the agility, the speed, the way we blowout our first opponent will determine whether the stands are packed or the stands are empty,” continued Roberts.
The Sport Minister also acknowledged that it has not been smooth sailing during the preparation phase but is positive that the Championships will be successful. “Yes, we had problems, enough about that. We understand the problems, let’s talk the solution,” stated Roberts. “Our team, the preparation before have not been good, we admit, but from here on end we are going to provide the resources for the girls so that they can train properly, (get full use of) the facility, the gym work. “Whatever happen in this tournament, we must put on a good show. It is about T&T, the red white and black promotion,” pledged Roberts. According to the TTNA president Francisca Rosseau, the Ministry has already provided some $400,000 to help finance both the Championships and the team but advised that more is needed for the success of the event. “I must commend the Ministry of Sport for their contribution because they have done a lot already but we are in need of more financing as the hosting the tournament is very costly.”
She went on to indicate that the Championships will provide an avenue to promote social integration and economic development.
“It will be used to drive forward the growth and development of the game at a global level. As T&T celebrates the 50th anniversary as an independent nation, TTNA sees the hosting of this event as another milestone in the country’s sporting achievements,” said Rosseau. Carol Charles-Austin, who is the chairman of the local organising committee (LOC), also added that despite the entire process being very expensive, everything is falling into place. “Planning has been going smoothly. We have covered a lot of ground since December. We are managing well and this is thanks to the Minister. “Bringing alot of countries is a great cost as well as getting the team ready for competition but we are getting there,” said Charles-Austin. Also in attendance were the permanent secretary at the Ministry of Sport Ashwin Creed, second vice-president at AFNA Martha Archer, other members of the netball body and players from the training squad.
.... Introducing T&T Professional Netball League
The Sport Minister also used to the opportunity to announce the introduction of the T&T Professional Netball League to come on stream soon. “It is in the development stages now. It will be where young ladies can earn a living playing and plying their trade in netball.” To facilitate this, the construction of nine regional centres across T&T which will begin on May 21 will each have a netball court. Roberts said, “Each regional centre will be equipped with an indoor, air-conditioned netball court, specifically and solely for netball not to be shared with any other sport.” This announcement brought on a round of applause by the gathering. “Our Defence Force, our coaches, our PTI our players will then be exposed to the better programmes in sport science and development so that our athletes will match Australia, Cook Islands and New Zealand in fitness, agility, speed, strength and everything because you cannot just win with ball skills and technical abilities, you must match them physically first.” The Minister went even further to declare that his Ministry will also be upgrading netball at schools.
“We will go into the schools and improve all the courts that use to exist and are now just asphalt and gravel pits. We will put down proper courts in their primary schools, equip them with coaches to identify talent from a young age and expand the number of children playing netball.” The Sport Ministry also plans to liaise with the Ministry of Science and Tertiary Education to increase scholarship opportunities locally for netballers to play netball and study. “The funding will be joint between the Ministry of Sport, the Sport Company, NGC, Petrotrin,and other government agencies, to ensure the success of this venture.”
Source: www.guardian.co.tt
By Rachael Thompson-King