The local organizing committee announced that Jenny Jenny and Basilla Barnaby-Cuff have been drafted in to be ambassadors for the upcoming America’s Netball World Cup Qualifier, which will be held between Sunday, October 16 and October 22 at the National Center of Indoor Sports in Kingston.
Jenny Jenny is considered a “live wire” and plays netball at Business House level for the Gleaner/Radio Jamaica Group.
Teams will engage in a variety of activities before the fierce competition begins on pitches with back-to-back matches. Pre-competition activities include a coaching workshop with international presenters such as Jill McIntosh, the Americas Netball AGM and a special welcome ceremony for the teams.
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The first leg of the matches will be played at 6pm on October 16 at NISC and will see 36 matches played in the league format.
According to Dwayne Gutzmer, chairman of the local organizing committee for the qualifier, “we will have nine teams taking part in seven days of exciting netball. It promises to be a world-class event with lots of prizes, lots of giveaways, lots of fan engagement, and as we get closer to the launch date, there will be much more activation on social media and traditional media. Nine teams from the region will participate and they include Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Cayman Islands, Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago, USA and of course Jamaica.
America Netball Region President Marva Bernard promises fun as “excitement is building and plans are reaching fever pitch. In one month, eight teams will join Jamaica and play in the Americas Region Netball World Cup Qualifiers. Jamaica has already qualified, but the organizing committee and Americas Netball felt that adding Jamaica to the mix for the tournament would bring some real competitive games for the home fans. I know there is a buzz in the region because only two teams will go forward to play in Cape Town in July next year. It’s just two spots and based on the competition that’s been held in the region since this year, it could be that people are gunning for say Trinidad and Barbados who have always gone to the World Cup, so I’m looking forward to another exciting event. world-class that is taking place in Jamaica.
“Not since 2003 have we had a multi-country netball tournament in the Americas region, so I’m hoping the customers will come out. I know there will be some good netball. It’s going to be hotly contested and I can’t wait for the first whistle to blow on the first day of competition so let’s rock and roll and bacchanal and catch the vibes and feel the vips and have our Dancehall and Reggae because it’s going to be a fun times in this place,” said Bernard.
The America’s Netball World Cup Qualifier kicked off in May with the announcement of the Minister for Gender, Entertainment, Culture and Sport – Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange as Patron.
LOC has already confirmed a number of sponsors including Sports Development Foundation, JTB, Budget Car Rental, Main Event, Courts, NCB, NHT, Tru Shake, Wata, General Accident, Gilbert, JPS and Juici Patties.
Sportsmax is the confirmed broadcast partner that will carry the games live across the region.
