Johnson calls for greater investment as Calypso Girls target Netball World Cup success

​Trinidad and Tobago senior netball head coach Liselle Johnson has called for greater financial support from corporate T&T and the government, insisting that the country’s recent successes must be matched by proper investment as the team prepares for the Netball World Cup in Sydney, Australia.

​Johnson made the appeal during an interview on CNC3’s Morning Shot programme on Thursday, following the national team’s successful campaign at the Americas Netball World Cup Qualifiers in Bridgetown, Barbados.

The world 12th-ranked “Calypso Girls” played unbeaten throughout the eight-team round-robin competition at the Sir Garfield Sobers Sports Complex, defeating Grenada (61-45), St Vincent and the Grenadines (73-41), the USA (43-39), Canada (61-32), St Lucia (62-35), the British Virgin Islands (106-17), and hosts Barbados (60-51). Just as they did in Santo Domingo, in the Dominican Republic to capture gold at the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games, Trinidad and Tobago swept the field to secure their spot at the global tournament.

The coach highlighted that the team’s back-to-back triumphs demonstrate the success of the ongoing national development programme, which has similarly propelled the junior squad to consecutive regional titles.

“It says that the programme that we have presently shows progress, not only with the senior netball team. We had the U-16 team that also won back-to-back tournaments,” Johnson said. “I believe the programme that we have running right now, with respect to the training and development of Trinidad and Tobago netball, is on a good path.”

​Johnson took over the senior team in December, a decision that attracted considerable criticism on social media because she had not previously served as a senior national head coach.

​However, she said her experience on the technical staff of the United States team before returning to T&T helped her make the transition, particularly through the knowledge she gained working with Australian-based training methods.

​Since assuming the role, Johnson–working alongside assistant coach Leslie-Ann Bacquain and manager Cynthia Stephenson–has sought to introduce a more structured system that encourages younger players to aspire to national selection rather than feel intimidated by the demands of the senior team. She believes this approach has created a stronger blend of experienced campaigners and emerging talent, allowing the technical staff, which also include physiotherapist Cydney Baird and massage therapist Jerome Brown, to identify promising players for the future.

​The coach acknowledged that bringing players of different ages, personalities, and maturity levels together presented challenges, but said the squad is developing the unity required for international competition. She was particularly encouraged by the players’ willingness to support one another and address internal communication issues.

​However, Johnson warned that regional success alone would not be enough when Trinidad and Tobago face the world’s leading netball nations. The team must raise its standards to compete against the likes of number-one ranked Australia, New Zealand (No 2), England (No 3), Jamaica (No 4), and South Africa (No 5) at the World Cup.

“We are going to compete,” Johnson declared, dismissing suggestions that the team would simply be travelling to Australia for the experience.

She stressed, however, that achieving that ambition would require a collective effort, with financial support being one of the most pressing concerns.

“There are a lot of things that the team needs. Some of the netballers are employed, some are unemployed, some are students, so this is a financial burden on everyone, even myself,” she said.

Johnson called for corporate sponsors and the government to help ease the financial pressure on players and staff, suggesting that stipends would provide meaningful assistance throughout the preparation period. She pointed to basic necessities such as meals, proper training footwear, and team kits as critical areas requiring attention, arguing that players should not have to struggle financially while representing their country.

​The coach also emphasised the importance of a professional approach to preparation, urging players to remain open to new training methods, embrace the technical staff’s guidance, and commit fully to the programme. She called on younger players to learn from past experiences and avoid allowing previous difficulties within the national set-up to hinder their development.

​Johnson said recent victories have provided a strong foundation, but warned that sustained progress depends on complete cooperation among players, coaches, administrators, the government, and the corporate sector. With Trinidad and Tobago now preparing for the World Cup, she believes the country has the talent to compete internationally, provided the team receives the resources and support necessary to take the next step.