The pressure is on as the national Under-21 netballers seek out a spot in next year's World Youth Cup carded for Botswana. To get there the junior "Calypso Girls" will have to place among the top three finishers in the Americas Federation of Netball Associations (AFNA) qualifiers in St Maarten. The competition will run from August 22-28.
With some two weeks away, the T&T netball team is putting in its final preparations under the guidance of coach Rhonda John-Davis looking to outclass teams from participating countries including Canada, Argentina, Barbados, Grenada, St Kitts & Nevis and host St Maarten.
John-Davis is more at ease with how much the team has progressed over the past few months and expects them to peak when the qualification event begins at the LB Scott Sports Auditorium.
"They look more structured. I have seen individual improvements from some of them which is benefitting the team," said John-Davis, yesterday. "They have been building comradarie and is playing more as a team."
John-Davis as well as the team which will be captained by senior shooter Kalifa McCollin and include experienced six-footer Jamilla McCarthy and Aniecia Baptiste, are looking forward to making their presence felt at the AFNA qualifiers, looking to make an impact in if they are to earn a place at next year's world netball championships.
John-Davis is far more comfortable with her team's fitness level than she was following the team's tour of Grenada in May. Then she had hoped that some of the youngsters would get rid of their jitters as a number of them are making their national debut. The series was used to help them build their confidence.
"Their fitness level is all up and this is because of their training with the Sport Company elite training programme. They did gym training and track workouts," said John-Davis, who is the most capped national player. "They were also had access to physocologist and nutritionist, so in all everything is coming together."
The tournament will be played in a round-robin format with the first three teams qualifying to participate in the world championships slated for the city of Gaborone.
Training continues daily with the team primarily competing in practice matches against various local teams to get to match readiness, to help bolster the "Calypso Girls" preparations for the qualifiers.
"Tomorrow, they will play the national senior team at 6 pm then on Thursday will meet El Basan men's team at 8 pm. On Friday they will play the senior team again at 6 pm, Malvern men's team on Saturday and Sunday against All Sectors Netball League All Star team from 10 am," said coach John-Davis, who has former senior teammate Kemba Duncan, serving as her assistant coach.
Entry to the matches cost $10.
TEAM
Kalifa McCollin (captain), Jeriecia McEachran, Jamilla McCarthy, Tianna Dillon, Shaquanda Greene, Oceana Scott, Jeniesha Cassimy, Shaniece Seemungal, Shantel Seemungal, Faith Hagley, Aniecia Baptiste, Tahirah Hollingsworth.
Officials
Rhonda John-Davis (coach), Kemba Dunca (assistant coach), Vanessa Forde (manager).