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Netball gets $1-m Pepsi boost |
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Written by Sanjay Myers
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The Jamaica Netball Association (JNA) on Thursday were handed a symbolic sponsorship cheque of J$1m from Pepsi-Cola Jamaica, through its brand Gatorade, to aid their cause as they continue to grapple with the harsh economic times.
Aside from the cash donation, Pepsi-Cola has also pledged an undisclosed quantity of Gatorade and Aqua Essential Purified Water products to hydrate the players during training camps and tournaments and has assisted with the construction of a study room at the association's home located in Barbican.
The company's general manager, Andrew Reid, told the Sporting World that Pepsi's 2010 sponsorship is evidence of their willingness to assist the development of the sport islandwide.
"We are always happy to lend support to a needy cause. The netballers have done the country proud over the years and we just want to put our support behind them.
"We have been enjoying this kind of relationship with the JNA for three years. In 2008 we provided rehydration products and last year we did a cash donation of J$300,000 along with the fluids. This year we have struck an even bigger agreement and hopefully next year our budget will allow us to do even more for them," Reid said.
This should come as a welcome boost to the cash-strapped local netball body, which recently received a team bus from local light and power company Jamaica Public Service (JPS).
The number four-ranked Sunshine Girls will square-off with world number three England in two Tests during the National Commercial Bank (NCB) Sunshine Series. Those matches will be played at the National Indoor Sports Complex (NISC) on September 1 and 3 as the senior team continues to prepare for the Commonwealth Games to be staged October in India.
JNA boss, Marva Bernard, dubbed the partnership between the JNA and Pepsi as being "a wonderful" one and is expecting it to continue for years to come.
"I have to say it is a wonderful partnership between us and Pepsi and I'm happy that they have finally fully come on board. They have been behind the scenes for some time, but this year we've gotten a substantial donation. We can only hope that they remain with us for the upcoming years," an elated Bernard said. |
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JPS lightens Sunshine Girls with bus |
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Written by HOWARD WALKER
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ON a day when the Jamaica Netball Association (JNA) had its office burglarised, there was a ray of light amidst the gloom as the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) donated a 2010 Toyota Coaster bus valued at $6 million to the Sunshine Girls yesterday.
JNA president Marva Bernard could not contain her delight at the brand new 28-seater vehicle which was unveiled at the team's residence on Widcombe Road in Barbican, Kingston.
Said Bernard: "This is the dream of every Jamaican, to own their own home, have a family and a vehicle. We have our family -- the Sunshine Girls -- the netball family by extension. We have our home, but we just didn't have enough transportation to take our family where they needed to go."
She added: "Really, this is a dream come true this morning and... everybody in the JPS who heard and believed in the vision, we're now a Jamaican family in that we need to produce the things we can produce."
Bernard later told the Observer that the JNA office at Independence Park was broken into.
"This morning thieves broke into our office at the National Arena. I don't know what they've stolen yet because I haven't got a report because I couldn't be there...we're soldiers and soldiering on," said Bernard.
Meanwhile Damian Obiglio, president and chief executive officer of JPS, said his organisation had been involved in netball for a long time and saw it fit to help.
"When many persons think of JPS, they think of electricity. However, along with being the provider of power supply to the island, JPS is committed to playing our part in growing the island's economy and enhancing the lives of Jamaicans.
"Our relationship with the JNA has been a huge success and we will continue to find new ways to expand the partnership and extend our support with this organisation. Today's venture is a true example of that commitment," he said.
"Franklyn D Roosevelt, the former US president, stated that 'we cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future. At JPS we'll continue to forge partnerships and embark on ventures that assist and nurture our nation's youth," Obiglio added.
The bus, which is painted in blue and yellow with a montage of netballers, also has sizeable JPS logos on each side.
Only in January, the JNA got a big boost when the government donated a dwelling dubbed "Sunshine Chalet", or "Netball House", which is used to accommodate players from the various national programmes during training camps, seminars and meetings.
Maria Jones, the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, spoke on behalf of Minister Olivia Grange, who is overseas.
Said Jones: "This signals a very important development in the Jamaica Netball Association and the Jamaica Public Service company.
"What is being announced today is the crucial part of a sustained drive to take the netball girls to their destination to be number one in the world," said Jones |
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NCB Sunshine Series tickets now on sale |
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Written by ANDREW HANCEL
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IT will cost netball fans a maximum of $700 per game to watch the Sunshine Girls in action against England in their two-match NCB Sunshine Series, starting September 1.
Patrons, however, are being encouraged to capitalise on the cheaper pre-sold ticket prices ahead of the series which was officially launched on Tuesday at the commercial bank's Wellness And Recreation Centre.
"As usual, our ticket prices are always extremely reasonable," reasoned Dorothy Hobson, competitions director for the series.
"We've taken into account the fact that we're in an economic crunch at the moment, so we've kept the ticket prices at $700 for adults -- that is, if you buy them at the gate -- and if you want to save a hundred dollars you can buy them beforehand for $600 at the JNA secretariat, which is located at the National Arena, Room nine."
For just $200, children will be allowed to see the international classic between two of the sport's biggest rivals.
Tickets, for the series, which culminates on Friday, September 3, are on sale.
England, ranked third in the world, and fourth-ranked Jamaica, will again renew their contest at the National Indoor Sports Centre as they both prepare for the Commonwealth Games in India in October.
Currently, the national senior netball team, minus several experience players, including regular captain Simone Forbes, is on a four-match tour of Oceania where they are pitted against Australia and New Zealand, ranked first and second in the world, respectively.
However, the team, led by Nadine Bryan, is yet to record a victory so far and the England series will serve as the final major litmus test before selecting the squad to represent the country in Delhi.
Notwithstanding the heavy defeats against the Aussies and the Silver Ferns, Hodgson said fans are anticipating high-calibre individual performances as players vie for a place on the team.
With this in mind Hobson, who is the second vice-president of the Jamaica Netball Association (JNA), is expecting netball enthusiasts, or just regular sport-lovers, to turn out in their numbers.
"We can't predicate crowd support on the fact that we lost a 'couple' of games," she said. "I don't think our fans are that fickle and we have to give them credit.
"I'm sure they will come out and support us nonetheless because they must realise that we've to build and we are in a rebuilding mode and there will be a point in time when you have to give the inexperienced girls some games because you can only learn to swim if you go into the water," she added.
The battle against the English will see coach Connie Francis fielding a stronger and more experienced side with the likes of Forbes, Casey Evring and Althea Byfield returning to first-team action.
Meanwhile, patrons are being urged to come out early on match days as the sponsor will be dishing out plenty of giveaways, including cash, Hobson disclosed.
"The whistle for the centre pass will be blown at 7:30 pm. Six-thirty is the pre-game show. NCB is in charge of that. They have a number of things which they're keeping under their hats, because they would want to surprise the patrons when they come.
"One of the things that I know they're planning to do is to have a shoot-off to see which patron can score the most goals, and they will be awarding some cash prizes for that," Hobson told the Observer. |
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JNA boss yearns for indoor facility |
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Written by SANJAY MYERS
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JAMAICA Netball Association (JNA) president Marva Bernard has again expressed her wish to have a fully accessible indoor facility for the national senior players.
Said Bernard: "Not having an indoor facility for ourselves is a problem, but we try to work around it. GC Foster has come onboard to help the under-21s, and it's interesting to note that those girls are playing on a sprung wooden floor more frequently than the senior players."
Speaking to the Observer after last week's launch of the 2010 National Commercial Bank (NCB) Sunshine Series involving Jamaica and England at the company's Wellness & Recreation Centre, Bernard said the antiquated, asphalted Leila Robinson Courts at Independence Park are not sufficient to enhance the growth of the sport.
"When it rains the Leila Robinson Courts are inaccessible and we only have stands on one side and they are badly in need of repairs. We would love to have good seats all around those courts.
"The other thing is that they are used by everybody -- for the Business House leagues, JNA leagues, by ISSA and also by the various church groups.
"That venue is woefully inadequate for the sport and those courts were built in 1971 when Jamaica hosted the World Netball Championships. Since then, netball has grown by leaps and bounds in the country," she said.
"Right now we have the video analysis (technology), but we can't use it outdoors because the lighting is so poor. When we get to go inside that is when we can use it and it's not all the time that we can go inside" Bernard added.
The National Indoor Sports Centre (NISC), which, like the rest of the Stadium complex, falls under the supervision of Independence Park Limited (IPL), is one such facility which possesses the necessary facilities, said the JNA president.
Bernard's explanation though, is that the JNA simply cannot afford to rent the facility as often as it would like.
"We want to thank IPL for what the've done, but the outdoor courts are not the best. To go indoors, even with a discount, it still means we have to go out and get additional funding to be able to pay for that.
"The other option is that we'd have to divert funds from somewhere to give the girls an opportunity," said Bernard, while noting that the usage of the NISC increases when the Sunshine Girls are preparing to host an international series.
Though expressing that she would prefer to have a facility on the Stadium complex as the JNA's training home, she has started to embrace the idea that they may have to look elsewhere.
"Yes, we would love to find another facility, but it's so good to be inside the Stadium complex," she said.
Last October Jamaica accomplished an historic 1-1 Test series results against the the top-ranked Australia and New Zealand at the NISC. This year's matches against the number three-ranked England will be on September 1 and 3, also at the NISC.
The Sunshine Girls will be looking to rebound after being respectively 'whitewashed' 3-0 and 2-0 by Australia and New Zealand in Oceania earlier this month.
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Sunshine Girls end tour Down Under without win |
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Written by CMC
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NAPIER, New Zealand (CMC) — Jamaica ended their tour Down Under with a whimper, when world number two New Zealand crushed them 62-40 in the second and final Test on Saturday.
The result condemned the world number four Sunshine Girls to a 0-2 sweep at the hands of the Silver Ferns, and their fifth straight defeat on the tour, following a 0-3 sweep by the World number Australia Diamonds on the first leg of the trip.
The Jamaicans have travelled with a depleted squad, following the absence of several leading players for one reason or the other, but they still brought nine players from the team that beat the New Zealanders less than a year ago in Kingston.
Coach Connie Francis would, however, be hugely disappointed with the results over the last three weeks.
Jamaican trailed 12-20 after the first quarter, 21-35 at halftime, and 33-48 after three quarters in probably their best display of their five-match tour.
The teams went toe-to-toe early, before the Jamaicans started to make mistake, usually due to pressure from their opponents.
Romelda Aiken under the hoop had her hands full with new Silver Ferns goalkeeper Anna Scarlett, and Anna-Kaye Griffith -- at goal attack -- failed to overcome the pressure from New Zealand captain Casey Williams at the goal defence position.
Jamaica tried Paula Thompson in the centre bib for the second period to provide more height, and to relieve Nadine Bryan of trying to keep up with the speedy Laura Langman.
The Jamaican still struggled to stop the flow of balls into the Silver Ferns' shooters Irene van Wyk and Maria Tutaia.
Finding the 6-ft, 5-in Aiken with more regularity, Jamaica kept with the pace, but found it hard work breaking down the Silver Ferns consistency and intensity.
The Jamaicans were fortunate that the Silver Ferns became a little ragged in the third term, and this was their best passage of play.
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Scotiabank 'A' retain Open League netball title |
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Written by GERALD REID
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DEFENDING champions Scotiabank 'A' defeated arch-rivals General Accident 21-14 to retain their hold on the Wisynco-sponsored 2010 Business House Netball Association (BHNA) Open League title at the Leila Robinson Courts last Saturday.
The victory gave the bankers their third hold on the Open League title, having first won it in 2007, before losing it to General Accident in 2008. They regained it last year and repeated this year. However, General Accident have won it more than any other team.
According to winning coach Winston Nevers "it was a very exciting encounter, but it was also a team effort. The bankers are much fitter than my insurance rivals and we used fitness to beat them as they were a little bit sluggish and we exploited it".
Losing player/coach Oberon Pitterson said: "I am very disappointed as we did not fight hard enough to the finish. We also did not stick to our game plan and not try to play as fast as our opponents."
"The team came through with a few spurts and in the process we also did not capitalise on turnovers, mistakes produced by Scotiabank. The players also looked a bit sluggish in their play, but we will rebound to the larger version of the game in the one-hour Super League encounter," Pitterson added.
The winners led 11-6 at the break, and though General Accident pulled to within 9-12, Scotiabank 'A' proved too strong in the end, pulling away for the comfortable victory.
Meanwhile, Jamaica Broilers defeated Scotiabank 'B' 35-15 to take third place with Taneisha Bloomfield scoring 23 goals from 24 attempts. Broilers led 19-9 at the interval.
Sagicor captured the Consolation Knockout final with a 27-17 win over National Housing Trust. The winners led 15-6 at half time. Lorraine Lewis scored 25 goals from 28 attempts for the winners.
Jamaica Public Service defeated J Wray and Nephew 23-12 in the play-off for third place in the Consolation Knockout. The winners led 12-4 at half-time. |
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JNA in the News +
