THIS YEAR’S NETBALL SEASON will not end with a whimper.
For three nights, Barbadians will get a chance to see the players who will be on national duty later this year pit their skills against past nationals and those from the next generation.
The inaugural President’s Cup will be held on June 10, 15 and 17 at the Netball Stadium.
There will be prizes for fans and each night one netballer will be named Player Of The Night and also receive prizes.
“This is a good idea that can be used for the national squad outside of the league. They will be up against players they have not met before and this would be an opportunity to play against different styles,” explained head coach Alwyn Babb.
“It is a welcome innovation because we don’t have the necessary finances for tours, but it would be an extension of the season for the players to play a high standard of netball going into the AFNA Championships.”
The Americas Federation of Netball Association (AFNA) Championships will be held in St Lucia from July 22 to 28, with Barbados coming up against
St Vincent, St Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, Canada and United States.
The top two teams will qualify for the 2011 World Netball Championships in Singapore.
In the President’s Cup, the players at national trials have been divided into Barbados 1 and Barbados 2. Barbados Select comprises former Under-16 and Under-21 nationals, while the President’s Select is a blend of youth and experience, with several past nationals in the side.
Babb said he and assistant coach Marcia Oxley would also assess the individual strengths of players under match conditions and tidy up individual and team concerns going into the tournament.
He said confidence was high among the players and hoped this would translate into success at AFNA.
The teams:
Barbados 1: Asantia Brathwaite, Chekirah Shepherd, Damisha Croney, Kimberley Brathwaite, Kimberley Maynard, Kizzy Marville, Laurel Browne, Lisa Puckerin, Natasha Bridgeman, Nikita Piggott, Samantha Browne and Shekira Boxill. Coach: Marcia Oxley.
Barbados 2: Faye Sealy, Jeneice Clarke, Latonya Blackman, Lydia Bishop, Nadia Blackman, Roslyn Charlemagne, Sabreena Smith, Sabrina Browne, Shanise Banfield, Tonisha Rock-Yaw and Tricia Briggs. Coach: Alwyn Babb
Barbados Select: Chemyne Alleyne, Dalia Scantlebury, Danissa Foster, Janelle Sealy, Marissa Elliott, Rieah Holder, Shanice Rock, Shanice Wharton, Shanise Jarvis, Shannon Hackett, Shannya Wiggins, Thania Puckerin and Victoria Monerville. Coach: Jackie Forde-Broome
President’s Select: Adonna Griffith, Astrid Alleyne, Cheryl Piggott, Denise Alleyne, Jacqueline Browne, Julie Phillips, Leah Harper, Linda Wilson, Natasha Goslin, Nikita Cyrus, Olivia Walcott and Wanda Agard-Belgrave. Coach: Marlene Hall
