Netball must revisit development strategy

Today the Caribbean observes Emancipation Day. One can only hope that we are given to understanding the significance of Bob Marley’s Redemption Song, in which he reminds us that emancipation goes well beyond the mere physical freedom to the very core of our being. We must be mentally free lest we be condemned to a life of misery.

AFNA 2008

St Vincent and the Grenadines played host to the Americas Federation of Netball Associations (AFNA) Netball Tournament during the period 20 – 25 July 2008.

Participation

Participation was well below expectations, something that does not augur well for the sport in the Caribbean region.

Barbados, Canada, Jamaica, St Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago joined host, St Vincent and the Grenadines, in the Tournament played at the Arnos Vale Sports Complex.

To be honest participation was poor.

The Caribbean is accustomed to hosting the Caribbean Netball Association’s (CNA) Tournament. But the CNA is the forerunner of the AFNA. Once the International Federation of Netball Associations followed the other international federations and went continental then the AFNA took precedence over the CNA.

AFNA includes the USA and Canada.

Our understanding is that the host, St Vincent and the Grenadines, found great difficulty eliciting responses from the teams around the Caribbean. There were some very frustrating times as one team after another failed to meet the established deadlines for confirming their participation.