Senior National Netballers on AFNA Mission

St. Vincent and the Grenadines senior Netballers are competing in the American Federation{{more}} of Netball Associations (AFNA) qualifiers which are set to begin in St. Lucia today, Friday, July 23.

They are competing for one of the two spots to the World Netball Championships next year in Singapore.

And, the man in charge of the team as coach is newly elected President Godfrey Harry, who has rescinded on an earlier decision to quit coaching Netball at the national level.

In 2006, following St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ return from the Commonwealth Games in Australia, Harry, who was the coach of the Netball team, announced his decision to quit.

He then pledged to concentrate his efforts on his club X- Ceed, which he has done.

In defending his stance to return to national senior coaching duties, Harry told SEARCHLIGHT last Wednesday morning just prior to the team’s departure that he had to step in after the designated coach had an emergency which she had to deal with, and “I was the most suitable person available.”

Focussing on his immediate task, Harry stated, “We have a young team with a few experienced players and we are rebuilding and this is part of the process.”

“I am promising not anything, but to say that our chances are as good as the others,” Harry said.

He disclosed that the St. Lucia sojourn will also be used to assist this country in notching up some matches, having been dropped from the IFNA rankings because of prolonged inactivity.

Harry will be in charge of a team which shows five newcomers at senior national representation in mid court players Ruth Ann Williams and Kaylene Thompson, shooters Mary Ann Fredericks and Tamara Samuel, and defender Keisha Kirby.

Shooter, Gailene Gordon is the team’s Captain, with centre court player, Anella Samuel- Vice Captain.

Jasmine Frank is the other shooter selected. Roseclair Hall, Vasha Adams, Jacintha Adams, and Maxine James, the other defenders.

Susan Jackson is also making her debut at the national level as the team’s manager. Also travelling with the team is the SVGNA’s Public Relations Officer Dianne Questelles, as an assistant to Jackson.

The Vincentian delegates to the AFNA Congress are Gloria Ballantyne, who is seeking re-election to the post of Treasurer, a position she has held since inception in 1992, and current Treasurer of the SVGNA Jacintha Ballantyne.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines plays Barbados today from 5 pm at the competition’s venue, the Beausejour Indoor Facility.

On Saturday, the Vincentians take on Trinidad and Tobago from 4pm, then on Sunday face host St. Lucia from 5: 30 pm.

On Monday, St. Vincent and the Grenadines plays Canada from 4: 30 pm, and round up with a meeting against the USA on Tuesday from 4: 30 pm.