Encouraging words from member of Parliament for Port-of-Spain North/St Ann’s West, Stuart Young, during the opening ceremony of the Port-of-Spain Netball League (POSNL) helped netballers readied themselves for the upcoming season.
The function, which was held at the Jean Pierre Complex in Mucurapo on Sunday, did not stray from its customary start that included the parade of teams and an exhibition match. Spectators were treated to two feisty and entertaining performances from this year’s junior calypso monarch Sharissa Camejo and A’Janae King Fraser, the National Action Cultural Committee’s (NACC) calypso pioneers winners.
Young threw out a challenge to all gathered asking them to invest in netball and to help it regain some of its prominence the sport once held. Netball is the only sport that has won T&T a world title.
“Parents, supporters, administrators, let’s revive the sport of netball. Go out into your communities to get all people active and let netball once again become a beacon sport for T&T,” said Young, who was clearly happy to part of the 77th edition of the league. “Be proud that it is your sport. I will give you my fullest support. Have fun, have clean fun.”
Defence Force got a boost ahead of start to the season, copping the march past title to their surprise. Though a number of teams had creative formations which entertained the crowd, it was the precise movements of the soldier/coastguard combination team in harmony, that got them the nod over the other 20 clubs.
T&T Netball Association (TTNA) president Dr Patricia Butcher, who was present to take the salute along with Young and former POSNL president Debbie-Ann Francois, said she was delighted to be there.
“I always enjoy coming to netball openings. What I love to see is the discipline with the march past and to see how the trainers and the coaches have prepared them for this opening and of course I look forward to the league,” said Butcher.
“I hope to see healthy competitions. With the plans we have for TTNA in terms of the development of sport in the communities, this league plays an integral role in terms of developing netball in T&T so I look forward to the competition in the future.”
Defence Force collected the most points, 274, followed by Police Services with 252 in second and CS Jets in third with 244. Mucurapo Ex-Pupils (243), Malvern (242) and Horizon (239), filled the other three spots, respectively. Malvern claimed two more awards for best flag and best queen. The other clubs participating were Transcend, Harlem, Las Lomas Police Youth Club, Soul City, Cardinals, Malta Carib Senators, Jabloteh, Ebony, Fire Services, Prisons, Chips, Hillgirls, Malvernites, Laventille United and Arima United.
Vilma Holder, who has served for number of years in the POSNL in various positions, is in her first stint as president and was happy with the turnout and had high hopes that this season would be a successful one.
“As the theme said, we expect teams to excel so we can have a greater participation in world netball,” she said.
The tentative date for the start of competition is April 1. Teams will compete in four divisions including the “A”, Intermediate, “B” and beginners. Following the formal part of the activities, spectators were treated to a match between two mixed men’s and women’s teams, Las Lomas and El Basan. The later emerged with a 48-20 win.