Barker to lead T&T netballers

Janelle Barker has been appointed captain of the 12-member team selected by the T&T Netball Association (T&TNA) to travel to the World Netball Championship (WNC) Singapore, from July 3-10.
The team was announced by Francisca Rousseau, president of the T&TNA at a press conference held at the conference room, Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs, head office, Port-of-Spain, yesterday.
In addition to Barker, the world eighth-ranked Calypso netball squad team includes the experienced Anika La Roche (vice-captain), Anastacia Wilson, Tricia Liverpool, Rhonda John-Davis, Crystal-Ann George, Joelisa Cooper and Alicia Liverpool. In Singapore, T&T will open its campaign against Wales on July 4. They will also meet Commonwealth Games champion New Zealand and Fiji in Pool B. Jamaica, ranked fourth in the world,  has been drawn in Pool C for the early rounds of the tournament alongside host Singapore, South Africa and Botswana. 

Defending champion Australia was drawn in Pool A with Sri Lanka, Northern Ireland and Samoa with England, Malawi, Barbados and Malaysia in Pool D. In its continued preparation for Singapore, the Calypso netballers will look to end an international six-match losing streak when they host Caribbean neighbours and fellow World Championship participants Barbados in a three-match series which jumps off today at Southern Regional Indoor Sports Arena, Pleasantville from 6.30 pm. Tomorrow, both teams will meet at the Eastern Regional Indoor Sports Arena, Tacarigua from 4 pm while the third and final match jumps off at the Jean Pierre Sports Complex, Wrightson Road from 4 pm on Sunday.
Over the past few months, the Calypso netballers have been swept by similar 3-0 margins, both away to Jamaica (March) and South Africa (May).

Looking ahead to the series against the tenth-ranked Barbadians, national technical director, Australian Karen Worland said her team will be facing possibly the most suitable opposition at this point in time. “Our two previous international series against Jamaica and South Africa were against higher ranked teams, but  I believe at this point in time, Barbados is the ideal opponent, three weeks out from the World Netball Championship because in terms of ranking we are almost evenly matched,” she said.

T&T netball squad: Janelle Barker (captain), Anika La Roche (vice-captain), Anastacia Wilson, Tricia Liverpool, Rhonda John-Davis, Crystal-Ann George, Joelisa Cooper, Alicia Liverpool, Candice Guerero
Jellene Richardson, Onella Jack, Kielle Connelly
Reserves: Jillisa Allan, Ashelle Legall, Daystar Swift
Technical staff: Carol Gitten (manager), Karen Worland (coach), Jennifer Frank (assistant coach), Dr Oba Gulston (physiotherapist), Zypherinus Nicholas (primary care), Dr Maragret Ottley (Sports Psychologist).