$45m World Champs budget

JNA faces massive spend in preparation for Singapore tourney

André Lowe, Senior Staff Reporter

It will cost the Jamaica Netball Association (JNA) just over $45 million for the preparation and participation of the Sunshine Girls team at this year's World Netball Championships (WNC) in Singapore, which is scheduled for July 3-10.

This includes a fee of $2.1 million that will be paid to the former head coach of the Australia Diamonds, Jill McIntosh, who will be working alongside national coach Connie Francis, as the team's technical director for a 15-week period, starting next week.

McIntosh, who has lifted several titles with the Australian team both as a player and a coach, was in the island one month ago on a six-week stint with the JNA, during which time she worked with a number of local coaches in the Jamaica Award Netball Coaching Certification programme.

Local companies Supreme Ventures Limited and ScotiaBank, to the relief of JNA president Marva Bernard, have actually covered McIntosh's expenses.

"She (McIntosh) is worth every penny and we have already felt her impact. We are truly grateful to Supreme Ventures Limited and ScotiaBank for covering that expense," Bernard beamed, while referring to the Sunshine Girls' recent win over world number one Australia.

McIntosh actually sent her programme to the JNA since last November and the local coaches have been implementing her instructions since then, a move that Bernard believes contributed to the team's improvements.

Preparation cost

In terms of the overall budget, the preparation cost for the team unsurprisingly hogs the majority of the budget with a $29.6 million figure being pencilled in at this point.

This includes the use of the National Indoor Sports Centre for training and competition ($8.1 million), squad training costs such as meals, transportation and coaching expenses ($7.2 million), salaries ($4.2 million) and $6 million to host the warm-up Tests against England and Trinidad and Tobago.

The JNA will have to find no less than $12.1 million to actually get to and participate in the tournament with airfare ($5.4 million), along with meals and accommodation ($3.7 million), commanding the majority of those expenses. A budget of $3.5m will also be set aside for performance incentives.

Bernard conceded that the administration is becoming a bit concerned about the budget, but noted that they are taking steps to help themselves while continuing their campaign for support within the corporate circles.

"We really are beginning to get a little concerned as to how we are going to get all that we need to go, but while we are concerned about the final figures we are working hard to help ourselves to achieve even some of the funds needed to prepare the team," said Bernard, during an exclusive interview with The Gleaner yesterday.

Among the initiatives planned by the JNA are a jumble sale of four barrels of clothing, an islandwide tin drive, a fundraiser performance of the popular play Judgement on February 25, a shoe initiative where members of the public can commit to helping the girls by paying for footwear, as well as the annual Sunshine Evening event on June 4.

"We are also engaging corporate Jamaica on the 'Road to Singapore' programme, asking them to contribute towards the budget to get the girls there," said Bernard.