In preparation for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games scheduled for late July, Barbados has fielded a strong team to participate at the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank 2nd OEC/ECCB International Netball Series.
This is the first time that Barbados, even though not part of the OECS, will compete at the tournament scheduled for February 12th to 18th at the Windsor Park Sports Stadium, in Dominica.
President of the Barbados Netball Association Nisha Craigwell said that this was a great opportunity for the Bajan Gems to be part of the tournament as an invited team and also served as a good way for the team to stay match ready for the Commonwealth Games starting Thursday, July 28 and ending Monday, August 8.
“This is normally an OECS regional competition, but as you know Barbados is not a part of the OECS but they have invited us to compete. So this is the first time that we are going to have the opportunity to play.
“It is timely because we qualified for the Commonwealth Games and it is good that we have the competition to go to. We are not an OECS country but we are going to get ranking points for the games,” Craigwell said.
The theme for the tournament is Excellence and Empowerment Through Sports and the
participating teams are Barbados, Dominica, St Vincent and the Grenadines, St Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda along with St Kitts and Nevis.
Craigwell explained that the Bajan Gems coached by Margaret Cutting will depart Saturday, February 12 for the tournament despite losing three of their top players in goal-shooter Shonica Wharton, goal-attack Sheniqua Thomas and centre Sabrina Smith. The reality is that with Wharton, Thomas and Smith out of the squad, the Bajan Gems will be somewhat depleted.
However, in losing those three senior players, the BNA management team has sought to add four new, young players to the mix in Lean Greenidge of COW Rangers, Chiara Chase and Jada Smith of Pine Hill St Barnabas Club along with Vivica Adamson of Spooners Hill Club.
“It is not the same squad that went to Scotland, Sabrina Smith is injured, Shonica Wharton is in rehab as well, and Shaniqua Thomas is also doing rehab. Those three and also Lea Padmore didn’t make this team,” Craigwell added.
morissalindsay@barbadostoday.bb
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