Netball, football coaches eye WISG repeat

The disciplines of netball and football will be looking to make it two in a row in the 2014 CBN/ Wilnlott Inc annual Windward Islands Schools’ Games, which is taking take place in St Lucia and will culminate on August 4.{{more}}

When the games were hosted here in 2013, St Vincent and the Grenadines played unbeaten in both disciplines. And, coach of the netball outfit Natasha Stapleton is upbeat about her charges’ chances in St Lucia.

“Netball being one of the disciplines in the games, I strongly believe that St Vincent and the Grenadines can repeat the first place for netball again this year,” Stapleton told SEARCHLIGHT last Monday.

“Netball has always been one of the strong disciplines for the St Vincent and the Grenadines’ contingent …. The players are positive that they can retain the netball title and as coach, I think no less,” Stapleton added.

Zooming in on her charges, Stapleton noted: “This year, we have incorporated some younger players who comprised the national Under-16 squad; this was a move to facilitate continuity, as this is the last year for a number of players.”

Meanwhile, coach of the football outfit Lorson Lewis, who will be on his maiden outing, said he is just trying to build on the efforts of his predecessor Theon Gordon.

“It is basically the same team from last year… We are not trying to re-invent the wheel, but build on what was in place,” Lewis said.

“We are working on sharpening the skills of the players and get the few new players to gel with those who were there before and go to St Lucia and give a good account of ourselves,” Lewis added.

Lewis stated that the players are on a mission of repeating their feat attained last year on home soil.

When the games got going last Monday at the Mindoo Phillip Park in St Lucia with track and field, St Vincent and the Grenadines docked in third in that discipline. Grenada retained that segment, with Dominica second and St Lucia fourth.

On Tuesday, the Vincentians were set to engage St Lucia in female basketball and Grenada in football, while on Wednesday, St Vincent and the Grenadines were scheduled to meet Grenada in netball and face St Lucia in male basketball.

Also on Wednesday, St Vincent and the Grenadines were set to square off with Dominica in female volleyball.

Female basketball and football, both against Dominica, are the competitions scheduled for St Vincent and the Grenadines on Thursday.

Friday’s programme sees St Vincent and the Grenadines doing battle with Grenada in female basketball, and netball and male basketball versus Dominica.

Action for the Vincentians on Saturday pits them versus Grenada in female basketball and against St Lucia in football.

Rounding up St Vincent and the Grenadines’ quest for the title are engagements against Grenada in male basketball and St Lucia in netball.

Basketball and netball take place at the Vigie Multiplex, while football is set for the SAB Playing Field and volleyball – the Beausejour indoor facility.

Other than the top placing in netball and football, St Vincent and the Grenadines finished second in female basketball, third in track and field, but was last in male basketball, female volleyball and male volleyball.

The St Vincent and the Grenadines’ contingent departed last Friday and Saturday for St Lucia.

The other coaches making the trip are Vasha Adams – basketball; Vance Andrews – volleyball and Wollis Christopher – track and field.

Completing the official party are Kathleen Jeffers, Sharon Morgan-Peters, Duane Daniel, Woodrow Williams, Moeth Gaymes and Devron Poyer.

St Vincent and the Grenadines finished third overall in 2013, trailing Grenada and St Lucia in that order. Dominica placed fourth.

St Vincent and the Grenadines last won the multi-discipline event in 2010, when St Lucia hosted.(RT)