BNA's SA mission

Published on: 8/17/08 by SHERRYLYN A. TOPPIN - Nation News

THE BARBADOS SENIOR NETBALL TEAM have been invited to South Africa to take part in a three-Test series against the hosts from October 19 to 26.

Barbados Netball Association (BNA) president Octavia Gibson told SUNSPORT the request was made after the team's return from the Americas Federation of Netball Associations Championships in St Vincent and the Grenadines last month.

"All of this came about because they are having a tri-series against Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago from November 10 to 17, so they want to use us for the warm-up," Gibson said.

"When I was in St Vincent, I heard about the tri-series and I asked Marva [Bernard, president of the Jamaica Netball Association] to introduce me to the South Africans. The plan was for them to come to us after the tour, but they said they preferred us to go there.

"They have a new floor and their sponsors want them to have a home series."

Gibson accepted the invitation last week and said Netball South Africa would assist the Barbadians with some of their expenses, but the main cost would be airfare of around $85 000.

The association has sought assistance from the Barbados Olympic Association and the National Sports Council, and is also making appeals to corporate Barbados.

This trip will go towards Barbados' ranking and rating and to securing a spot for the 2010 Commonwealth Games in India which is for the top 12 countries. Barbados are ranked 11th in the world, while South Africa are ninth.

"It is imperative that we play more international games against teams ranked higher than we are. If we don't play we don't get points and we could easily get pushed off," Gibson said.

"The teams ahead of us and behind us are also Commonwealth countries. What we will do while we are there, is to see if we can play anyone else."

Meanwhile, Salisha Auguste, Natasha Bridgeman, Chekirah Shepherd and Renée Rudder have been recalled to the squad, and, in keeping with a statement made by head coach Harriet Waithe at the end of the AFNA Championships, four more players have been added.

Former senior defender Latonya Blackman has been recalled; while Natalie Miller, former Under-21 captain Shakera Springer of Queen's College and Shakira Boxill of Springer Memorial have also been called to trials.

Waithe said that after the AFNA Championships the team took a short break, but had training programmes from physiotherapist/ trainer Andrew Simpson, while individual players have been in the gym. The team have started training again.

In April this year, South Africa announced the appointment of a new coach through to the Commonwealth Games. Among their aims is to improve their world ranking and also reclaim the No. 1 spot among the African teams which they lost to Malawi.

Barbados played South Africa at the last two World Netball Championships, losing 56-36 in 2007 and 54-35 in 2003.

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