Thousand$ up for winners as semi-pro netball tournament gets going in SVG

Five netball teams, each comprising 12 players, a coach, a manager and a primary care person are taking part in the first ever Semi-professional Netball Tournament in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG). The five participating teams are Maples, Mitres, X-Ceed, Netters, and Sion Hill.

Speaking at the launch on Monday, September, 15, 2025 at the national at the Nutricia Netball Centre, New Montrose, Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsavles , said each player will be paid EC$200.00 per game. With each team playing a total of eight games, each player will receive EC$1,600.00, and each team will receive a participation fee of EC$4,000.00,while the player of the tournament will receive EC$1,000.00.

The winning team will receive EC$20,000.00; the team in second place will get EC$15,000.00; and the third placed team will receive EC$10,000.00. The overall purse in the League is projected to be EC$200,000.

The Prime Minister said this reaffirms the government’s commitment to the growth and development of sports in SVG.

Present at the launch were netball players; supporters of the sport, Minister of Finance, Camillo Gonsalves; Minister of Sport, Orando Brewster; Minister of National Mobilisation, Senator Keisal Peters; Central Kingstown Member of Parliament St. Clair Leacock; and members of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Netball Association’s executive.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines is currently 17th in the global netball rankings, and the Prime Minister praised the senior national team (Vincy Jewels) for retaining the title in the ECCB International Netball Series which ended in Grenada on August, 31, 2025.

He recalled SVG’s proud netball history which included Vincentians being part of the 1960 West Indies Netball Team. He noted too, that the government has made significant investment in sports infrastructure, citing multi-million-dollar upgrades to facilities at Arnos Vale, Diamond, and Cumberland.

He noted as well that the government’s support for athletes’ education and career development has seen the introduction of policies that ensure national athletes are either enrolled in school, engaged in tertiary education, or employed, while scholarships and training opportunities continue to be provided across all sports.

He added that the current administration has invested more in sports than any other administration, and that this competition is not just about netball, but about recognizing athletes, building opportunities for young people, and strengthening community pride.

“I’m very happy to be here this evening to identify with this very important initiative of the government spearheaded by Minister Hon. Dr. Orande Brewster.”

Meanwhile, President of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Netball Association, Natasha Baptiste, in her remarks said, “Today we stand at a defining moment in the history of sport in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. It is with immense pride, deep gratitude, and great expectation that we officially open the Inaugural Semi-professional Netball League, the first of its kind in our nation.”

“For decades, netball has been the heartbeat of our communities, from the school courts to village competitions, from national tournaments to international representation, netball has given us reason to celebrate, to unite, and to dream.

“Today we elevate that dream to a new level, where our athletes are now recognized not only as players, but as professionals who are investing their talent, time, and discipline into a sport that has given so much to our people. At the heart of this league are our very best players, including the pride of the nation, our Vincy Jewels, the Queens of the OECS,” Baptiste added.

“These young women have proven time and again that they are not only among the best in the region but are ready to hold their own on the international stage. Just recently, at the ECCB International Netball Series, our Vincy Jewels delivered a performance that captured regional attention and made Vincentians everywhere proud,” Baptiste, who served as coach of the Vincy Jewels in 2024 and 2025,affirmed.