This country's national women's under-21 netballers are in training for the 2025 Netball World Youth (Under 21) Cup Americas qualifiers in Guadeloupe from July 4-15.
The 15-member squad has been preparing at the St. Paul Street gymnasium and the Maloney Indoor Sporting Complex since April.
The manager of the team Vanessa Forde is confident the players will be ready for the qualifiers. She Told Guardian Media Sports on Wednesday that, "So far training has been going quite well. We have seen a lot of improvement in the girls. They started timid but now they are working at a high performance level. They have been training hard and I think they are ready. We are about 85 percent ready. They will be working on set plays and that type of thing for the rest of the month. I think the girls are going to peak at the right time."
Forde is hoping for more chemistry among the players. "During the week when we have training, we don't have the Tobagonians. So it is difficult when they come on the weekend the coaches have to redo what they did in the week."
Forde added that...."Even though they can do some work in Tobago it is not the same and that gelling they have to do when come back on the weekend. It is always difficult for them to fall in. But we have been overcoming that "
Captain Kathy-Ann Graham is pleased with the commitment of her team-mates. "When it comes to training we know we have to have to be on time. We have to give everything we have and show the coaches what we have to present when we go out there."
Graham further said. "Even though the expectations are high that is something we have worked for. Our coaches teach us that is a good pleasure to work under pressure. It shows how good we are and what talent we can bring to the table."
The contingent is coached by national professional player Kalifa Mc Collins with another retired national standout Crystal-Ann George as the assistant coach.
The 2025 Netball World Youth (Under 21) Cup for Gibraltar is from September 19-28.
