Under-21 netballers prepare for youth World Cup qualifiers

THE Trinidad and Tobago Under-21 netballers are gearing up for the Americas Qualifying series from July 4-14 in order to secure a spot at the 2025 Netball World Youth Cup, which will be held in Gibraltar. Coaches Kalifa McCollin-Lopez and Crystal Ann George are trying to use their experience to rebrand the way the game is played locally.

The squad held a media day at the St Paul Street Gym in Port of Spain on June 19. McCollin-Lopez, a national senior player, is the coach. George, a former TT player, is one of the assistant coaches, and Vanessa Forde is the team manager. The netballers have been training since January for the qualifiers, which will be staged in Guadeloupe against regional teams. TT must finish in the top three among the 12 teams in the qualifiers to advance to the World Cup.

"I think the most important thing for us is consistency and sticking to task," McCollin-Lopez said. "I think that will be the make or break for us...we need to be mindful of playing clinical netball and I think that will propel us to success."

Looking at the team's strengths, she said, "I think definitely in our shooting circle we have a lot of experience because some of those girls would have gone through age groups."

Co-captain Destiny Williams and Shaniya Morgan are expected to be among those leading from the front.

George said the preparation has been productive. "I think the preparation is good. The girls are really hyped, they are actually putting in the work. As coaches, we are proud of them that they are doing the additional work that needs to be done at this point in time."

It has not always been smooth sailing. "Some of the Tobagonian players were at a disadvantage because we did not have them (all the time) from April or every day onwards. They only came on weekends and not every weekend," George said.

"TT needs to come on board because this is the female sport that won a world tournament (in 1979) and we need to look at that when investing in a team," George said.

George and McCollin-Lopez want to change the style of play in TT netball. George said, "As coaches, we really pushing them as Kalifa and I have experience being on the senior national team, playing pro and semi-pro outside (of TT). We actually changing the brand of netball here, so I just think people need to come on board and support that."

McCollin-Lopez said, "I think the slogan right now is reclaim the game and hopefully with our Under-21s now we can do that and we can change the face of netball and how people view us as a whole."

She is glad to hear that the Jean Pierre Complex in Mucurapo will be renovated. "I think that will be so phenomenal for us because we do not have a home for netball."

Forde said the youth netballers are soaking in all the information from the coaches. "I like when we get a crop of young ladies who we can mould, what we call coachable. We also really have a great coach and a great assistant coach," Forde said.

Captain Williams also pointed to the attitude of the team. "I want to say that our determination (is our strength). Our sacrifices that we made have given us strength to push. As our coaches would always tell us, 'Dig deep, go hard, don't give up.'"

TT squad: Shaniya Morgan, Maikea Bramble, Jelissa Goodridge, Kathyann Graham, Shiyan Lewis, Kerlene Johnson, Nzinga Charles, Kayleea Songui, Destiny Williams, Jenicia Goodridge, Nekeisha Gomes, Nichola Gill.

Reserves: Aneisha Hyles, Jada Hamilton, Xhane Gray.