SVG’s Quow is Under-16 CNA/Jean Pierre Tournament’s MVP

Fifteen year old Jueneka Quow of St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) copped the most prestigious individual award at the closing ceremony last Tuesday, April 9, of the 2024 Caribbean Netball Association’s (CNA) Jean Pierre Under-17 Netball Tournament which was held in Saint Lucia. The SVG team finished fourth of five teams in the April 2-10 tournament in which Barbados retained their number one spot, while Grenada placed second.

Quow, a student of the Georgetown Secondary School and player with Sans Souci Blazers, played in the tournament as goal keeper, goal attack, and goal shooter -shoot.

Keandra Stay (left) of St. Vincent and the Grenadines receiving her Youngest Player Award from Samantha Mann representing the Book Foundation (photo by Robertson S Henry)

The other Vincentian player to receive an individual award is Keandra Stay, who at 11 years old, was the youngest player in the tournament.

Meanwhile, Vincentians- Jueneka Quow, and Kalia Wyllie, were among 16 selected as the best players in the tournament. The junior Vincy Jewels lost in their bid for third place on Monday when they were pipped by Dominica 21-23.

They were to compete against St Lucia to determine which team would place fourth, but the team’s management objected indicating to the CNA secretariat that the Vincy lasses were not accorded adequate rest between matches.

“I write this with great displeasure as to the structure of the 2024 CNA U16 Netball Tournament being held in St Lucia. Team SVG has played every day of the tournament and my players’ welfare MUST be taken into consideration,” an April 8, 2024 email from president of the SVG Netball Association, Natasha Baptiste states.

“Additionally, Team SVG played the 3rd/4th place game today, and as such, we find it highly unfair and not in the best interest of my young players’ welfare, to be told that they have to play for fourth and fifth place.

“Their loss this evening automatically qualifies them as the fourth place team in the tournament. As a result of this please note that Team SVG will not be playing this game as it makes absolutely no logical sense for this game,” Baptiste’s email continued.

“Of note should be that Team St Lucia played 4 games with 2 rest days, whereas Team SVG has played 6 games in 5 days with NO rest day at all.”

In response, the CNA Secretariat said: “As indicated to all participating countries in a meeting at which the fixture was discussed and accepted by all who were present, the format used was to ensure that teams play more than just four (4) matches.”

Baptiste, however, said she was not disappointed with the team.

“I am very proud of the performance of the Vincy Jewels Youths, especially of Tournament MVP Jueneka Quow who also copped the country MVP for the Vincy Jewels”.

“Keandra Stay despite being the youngest player of the tournament at 11 years old, displayed her skills and tenacity against older and more physically built opponents.”

Baptiste said the performance of the entire team is a sign that the future of netball in SVG will be in good hands.

“It is for us to chart the pathway to ensure their further development and that is one area[s] the executive of Netball St Vincent and the Grenadines will definitely be focusing on during this term of office.”

The SVGNA president also praised the work of the management team which she said had executed these roles for the first time.

“We will continue to develop our young people not just in playing the sport but also in the administration,” Baptiste pointed out. She added that this year one of the young players will have the opportunity to obtain a scholarship to further their studies at the SVG Community College which is part of the association’s partnership with the Bank of St Vincent and the Grenadines. The team to the Under-17 tournament comprised : Shakayra Bowens, Kyla Lewis, Phoebe Ferdinand, Amunique Edwards, Azumi Quow, Jueneka Quow, Jedinca Edwards, Keandra Stay, Tahlia James, Afiea Stay, Kyshanna Alexander, and Kalia Wyllie.

The Manager was Maxine Coombs; coach, Maryann Frederick; assistant manager/coach, Akeil Matthews, and Physiotherapist, Javed Marksman.