Latest update January 23rd, 2025 7:40 AM
Jamaica sends Guyana downhill 124-8 in AFNA Championship
By Juanita Hooper
Guyana’s National Netball Team, last evening suffered another defeat from Caribbean giants, Jamaica despite goal shooter Angeline McCarthy’s effort with 8 goals in the American Federation of Netball Associations (AFNA) Championships at the Jean Pierre Complex, Port-of-Spain.
Guyana went downhill to the Jamaicans who knew exactly what they were about, taking advantage of the Guyanese disadvantages. The majority of the Guyanese players were 5 feet in height.
Guyana goal defender tries to stop the Jamaican shooter from netting.
The Jamaicans scored 124 out of their attempted 129 which was fashioned by the attackers and defence players who displayed their talent to the spectators.
McCarthy being the tallest player on the team managed to net 8 out of her 12 attempted goals throughout the game, which saw the Jamaicans players aggressively attacking Guyana.
Interviewing National Coach of Team, Lavern Fraser-Thomas after the defeat on the team’s performance on the third night of the Championship, it was revealed that the players have improved to an extent from the previous two games against Trinidad and Tobago and Saint Lucia. “I thought that the team performed a little better than they would have done in the previous matches in the Championships,” she said.
The coach who was encouraging the players throughout the game stated that she thinks the players were intimidated by their opponents who intercepted most of the balls, “I still think that we were somewhat intimidated by the Jamaicans height and size, in the fact that they are the power house in the Caribbean.”
Continuing, she added that the team was working on the field, stating that some of the players excelled above their level of play, “The fact that the team is able to score is an indication that they were working and some of the players really excelled above their level of play. Though I think they still allowed that intimidation to prevent them to giving of their best.”
The Coach who feels that the team surpassed the hurdle is hoping that they can increase their scoring level, “It is my only hope that now we have gone pass this hurdle which was really the highest hurdle I think, we can settle down and get to raise the level of our score.”
Two players were also injured resulting in the team losing some of its strength. Robin Thomas, Wing Attack/Defence, was the latest to be added to the injury list.
Fraser-Thomas commenting on Robin Thomas situation disclosed that she was apprehensive about the player’s injury.
“I am right now apprehensive about Robin, she has gone to the Medical Centre and I am hoping that the injury is not as dangerous because if we are unable to get her services for the duration of the tournament that would be a really terrible thing for us, because we have been using her in both the attacking and defence on the court and I think it would be really hard for us to fill her role.”
However if the situation turns out to be that she will be unable to play today then the other players will have to fill in for the remanding of the Championships.
Tasnica Lovell, Centre player was one of the outstanding players on the team, despite her short build structure; she was still able to maneuver herself on the court creating productive passes.
Speaking with Lovell briefly after the game she stated that she placed all her effort into the game knowing that it was a team game, “I put my all into the game, it was difficult but I knew that my effort would have counted.”
Guyana will be facing Barbados today at the Jean Pierre Complex.
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
Poverty does not come with a lifetime warranty
Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News- When the national discussion segues to poverty reduction, it resurrects the age-old debate... more
OAS Secretary General Election and renewed OAS Consensus
Antiguan Barbudan Ambassador to the United States, Sir Ronald Sanders By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News- The upcoming election... more
Weekend Cartoon
