by Sherrylyn A. Toppin
Alwyn Babb is back as senior national netball coach, and the proverbial hatchet seems to have been buried.
The new Board of the Barbados Netball Association decided to rehire Babb who had resigned following the election of president Juanita Cordle on December 16. Attempts to get confirmation yesterday from Cordle were futile.
But Babb said: “The coach, president and the new board of the Barbados Netball Association have reached a consensus, so training will resume in earnest.”
A training session for all players who were at trials from February 2010 through December 2010 will be held at 6:30 p.m. tomorrow at The Lester Vaughan School.
The coach was called to a meeting with the Board last Tuesday during which he raised concerns and they also stated their case. Notice of the appointment was given yesterday morning via telephone.
Having secured his former team of manager Maureen Shepherd; assistant coaches Marcia Oxley and Jackie Forde-Brome; shooting coach Cameron Greenidge and technical director George Shepherd, Daisy Browne has been added as assistant manager in the event that Maureen is unable to travel.
NATIONSPORT understands attempts were being made to replace most of the staff around Babb who was full of praise for George Shepherd whom he said “has a brain out of this world”. Babb said Shepherd had brought his basketball expertise to the team and his quiet nature belied a keen analytical eye and tactical ability which were invaluable during preparation for the Commonwealth Games.
Concerns raised at the meeting by Babb were that players received the support they needed in terms of nutrition and hydration when they went to training straight from work; they were provided with proper clothing for training and travel and also received a travel stipend.
“We want them to feel they are among the elite. It is not a club. When you come to national training you must feel different and make players feel it is an honour to represent their country. If they are travelling, there must be an early understanding with the employers and you have to make sure that when they come back home they have a job,” he stressed.
The coach praised the players who, despite the turmoil surrounding the team, remained committed to training. Individual players were responsible for certain parts of the sessions, with team captain Latonya Blackman holding overall responsibility.
However, he warned them that the selection policy was still in place and everyone had to work for the right to be on the team.
“No place is guaranteed. A new selection will be in place for the world tournament. Because you went to the Commonwealth Games doesn’t mean you will be going to worlds.”
Babb said the top four nations in the world were currently playing each other and Barbados needed to put the politics aside and get to work to catch up. New Zealand defeated England 42-40 in their first tour match, while Australia defeated Jamaica 63-51 in the first and drew 49-49 in the second.
