It is time that the Marriaqua Sports Association (MSA) gets back on its feet.{{more}}

This is the view of the head of the organizing committee of the 2014 Kirk Da Silva Marriaqua Netball competition, Julia Matthews, who says there are enough competent persons residing in the Marriaqua Valley to get the job done.

“I am simply calling on persons to get on board and run the Marriaqua Sports Association”, Matthews declared.

Dormancy crept into the association following the death of Larry Bascombe in 2009, despite efforts to maintain the momentum and vibrancy he created while he was at the helm.

Following Bascombe’s death, Lyn Marie Nicholls took over the leadership of the association. However, she was unable to carry out her duties, because of a lack of support and subsequently, personal reasons.

Matthews revealed that her initiative to stage the netball competition was mainly aimed at jolting others into action.

“…What I am doing in having the netball tournament is to wake up the people so that they could realize the importance of sports in the community…. I have been trying to touch base with some people who I believe can do something, but for some reason or the other, time is their constraint,” Matthews noted.

Willing to serve, but in a lesser capacity, Matthews thinks that the association, when reconfigured, should include individuals who have competence in a specific sporting discipline.

Matthews, who is willing to mobilise persons and get the MSA revived, said she will give of her time to netball, as that is her forte.

In a passionate plea, she said she hopes that the situation will be addressed in the shortest possible time and with the urgency it requires.

The MSA, over the years, became one of the most vibrant sporting organisations in St Vincent and the Grenadines, with the hosting of football, netball and basketball competitions. Much of that vibrancy has been linked to the tireless efforts of Bascombe.

The 2014 edition of the netball competition has been opened up to include teams from outside the Marriaqua precincts. Last year, when Matthews and her committee first tried their hand at a netball competition, it was a Marriaqua inter-village affair. Nine teams are registered for this year’s competition.

Those in the fray are High Park, ASCO One, Dutch Lady Clinchers, Mespo Combined, Lime Hill Shottaz, Star Girls, Sea Operations Nar Fren Dem, 3 J’s Valley Strikers and Everready Future Stars.

The competition venue is the Richland Park Government School yard’s hard court.(RT)