Painful decline in TT netball

THE EDITOR: Permit me a portion of your valuable newspaper space to air some heartfelt comments about the recent World Netball Championships in Jamaica. I am at present studying at a university in New Zealand. And here I was, boasting to everyone that I was from the country that was joint champions with New Zealand and Australia in 1979. My boasting stopped when, about a month before the tournament, I saw New Zealand beat England in a three match test series here in New Zealand. I was astounded to say the least. Their style of play, professionalism, fitness levels, strategies and analysis of the game were way superior to ours (light years ahead). I had seen highlights of our local competition on television and some games at the Lystra Lewis court before leaving for New Zealand in February this year so I was sure we did not stand a chance against any of the top teams.

In New Zealand there was only concern about Australia. Jamaica did receive a passing comment only because they saw Jamaica as an improving team and the host country. Anyway, I have only been in New Zealand for about six months to date and I see the difference between First and Third World or developing nations in every respect, from sports to in-depth and complete investigative analysis when there is a road accident. About netball in New Zealand, there are complete indoor facilities in almost every suburb. There is a country-wide professional league (our professional football league is close to this except for the meagre support) with paid players and sell-out crowds in the hundreds and thousands for premier games.

They analyse every team with videos and calculate shooting and ball possession statistics rigorously. The Silver Ferns who won the World Cup were in training for about 18 months leading up to the championships in Jamaica. They spent time playing and training in an indoor steam-heated court and spent about two weeks in Miami acclimatising before going to Jamaica. I read with pain that Trinidad was in preparation for less than three months or 90 days. I can say a lot more that I have seen and observed for the last six months. However, it pains my heart that countries like us, with such God-given talent, gifts of oil and gas resources, businesses and banks declaring millions in profit on an annual basis choose not to invest for a better showing at international sport tournaments such as the one just gone.

New Zealand has about four million people and Jamaica about a little more than half of that number, but look where Jamaica is without the kind of wealth that we boast. Are we that lacking in vision? Or is Trinidad a country simply driven by individuals who want to get wealth, get it fast and hoard it all for their pleasure and luxury? That which a man or country soweth will they not reap it? It seems to me that all sports in Trinidad are treated in a flippant manner. Nobody is really serious apart from the poor struggling athletes and coaches. Imagine our netball team failed to get past Samoa, a twin island Pacific state of less than 190,000 people, proving that size doesn’t really matter if you have the right training, preparation and facilities. Come on Trinidad and Tobago, let us get out of the mould of only backing winners, and start building them. Let’s start a true professional netball league, so that 1979, is not eventually seen as a flash in pan, and the late Jean Pierre can come to some rest in her grave. Minister of Sport, Businessmen/women, banks, oil companies, gas companies, it is time to step onto the court and have a shot! Sadly our showing in netball represents a systemic problem.

W M JACKMAN
Heartbroken, but hopeful Trini
New Zealand