‘DON’T CALL IT DUPPY’

AS THE netball fraternity gears up for the start of the 2025 Red Stripe Flavours/Netball Jamaica Elite League, there are concerns that the competition has stagnated and needs revitalising.

The Elite League started in 2013 with six teams – St Ann Orchids, Clarendon Gaters, Manchester Spurs, St Catherine Racers, Kingston Hummingbirds, and the St James Sharpes, before two under-21 teams were introduced in 2017.

However, the Gaters and the Sharpes have folded and no longer participate, so for the upcoming season only four teams will contest the league. The four will be joined by an invitational U21 team.

According to a Netball Jamaica release, the competition will bring together the top local-based athletes in a battle for supremacy,

“All of our locally based Sunshine Girls will take part in the competition, and will be spread across the four elite teams along with former nationals and aspiring Sunshine Girls who were drafted from our Divisional Leagues,” Netball Jamaica vice president Simone Forbes stated.

However, long-serving Tivoli Gardens netball coach, Sylvester Campbell, who is also the current head of umpires, does not believe the best local players are making themselves available for the Elite League.

“The stipend that they give these girls, half of them do not want to play for that, and that is why we are down to four teams. That is my understanding.

“So they do not want to play because the money is small. So this needs a whole renaissance and Netball Jamaica needs to sit and sort it out. They have to make it attractive.

“But money is what they need to run the league. Money is what will make the league good and nothing else,” he stated.

Campbell noted that after 12 years, there have been very little gains and that the league has not progressed the way they hoped.

However, he believes there is still hope and that the league can be a success.

“I don’t believe we should make it die. Since we are now down to four, let us see if we can build and go again.

“If it is not dead, don’t call it ‘duppy’. If you have a plant and water it and treat it, it can come back to life. But the growth will only come if we invest capital in it. Therefore, Netball Jamaica may need to ensure they put a good marketing team in place. Someone to really propel the league.

DESERVING OF A SIMILAR LEAGUE

With Jamaica consistently being one of the top five countries in the world, Campbell thinks the country is deserving of a league similar to the level of Australia and England.

“The players will grow because they have tough matches every weekend, the coaches will grow because they know how to strategise to win games, and the umpiring will grow because they are reffing the biggest games at high intensity. So it guarantees growth for every sector.

“Last year we tried to stretch it to six teams, so it was watered down to a low standard. The Elite League needs to be the best of the best. Now we have four teams and they will play some really hard games, and that is what we are looking for,” he added.

Former national coach and coach of many-time national club champions Jamalco, Winston Nevers, also thinks the league has failed to developed the way it was hoped and believes an injection of international talent might just do the trick.

“We want the league to pick up again and blow up, like the Australians who have their league and bring in international players. That is what they are trying to do but the standard is not that high as yet.

“I would like to see people from other countries, especially the Caribbean. If that happens, the league would jump to another level.”

The league has promised an international flavour this year, with two overseas players, one from England and another from Australia, set to participate.

Nevers also believes the league needs more visibility.

“We need to get something on the TV that people can see. Even if we can get a sponsor that will sponsor it every other week again. But we need to see it on the TV more.

“Go around, beg sponsors. Do something. Even if you have to take the money out of Netball Jamaica coffers,” said Nevers.

Meanwhile, the official League draft on June 6, confirmed the teams and their coaches.

Jamaica U21 Shiners will be coached by Annett Daley, Jodi Ann Ffrench Kentish will be in charge of Kingston Hummingbirds, defending champions Manchester Spurs will be led by Dalton Hines, Kurt Dale will oversee the St Ann Orchids, while co-coaches Kerry-Ann Brown and Rasheed Josephs will guide the St Catherine Racers.

The Netball Jamaica Elite League will be played at the National Stadium on Fridays and Sundays from June 27 to July 27.

Red Stripe Flavours is the title sponsor, with associate sponsors Powerade and Marathon Brokers.

Team sponsors are Texaco Caribbean, Mitsubishi Motors, Xpress Sports and Nature Valley.