Unavailability of top players forces JNA to cancel series

Robert Bailey, Gleaner Writer

The unavailability of a number of Jamaica's senior players has forced the Jamaica Netball Association (JNA) to cancel their three-Test series against New Zealand, as they are unable to field a competitive team for the matches which were slated for January next year.

Marva Bernard, president of the JNA, told The Sunday Gleaner that the New Zealanders were also having difficulties funding the trip to the Caribbean.

"We are in a rebuilding mode now and we are preparing for FastNet and six of the senior players have asked for time off," said Bernard.

"We have been working with players who have not been to FastNet and so the team will be focusing their energy to prepare for FastNet."

Continuing, Bernard added: "After the FastNet it would be one month before New Zealand comes and so we told them we will not have a full strength team to play them and they agreed."

She added: "They also indicated that they were having some challenges funding the tour and so both of us agreed that we would cancel it."

Goal shooter Romelda Aiken, along with her sister Nicole, a top defender in the Sunshine Girls team which participated at the World Netball Championships (WNC) in Singapore earlier this year, have indicated to the JNA that they will be taking time off from the sport. Veteran defender Althea Byfield has also retired from the team since the WNC.

Bernard noted that the JNA has promoted seven of their Under-21 players to the senior team and along with a few other players who did not make the team for the WNC, they will be vying for spots in the FastNet squad.

"We have players who did not make the last World Championships team who are now back in training and we have players who the selectors have recruited from western Jamaica and they are now preparing for the FastNet," Bernard said.