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World Youth Cup nix concerns Bernard

Published:Saturday | August 1, 2020 | 12:16 AMRobert Bailey/Gleaner Writer
Jamaica goal keeper Kadie-Ann Dehaney (right) competes with Botswana’s Chelido David during their Netball World Youth Cup match at the University of Botswana in Gaborone, Botswana on Tuesday, July 11, 2017.
Jamaica goal keeper Kadie-Ann Dehaney (right) competes with Botswana’s Chelido David during their Netball World Youth Cup match at the University of Botswana in Gaborone, Botswana on Tuesday, July 11, 2017.

Americas Federation of Netball Associations President Marva Bernard says the postponement of the Netball World Youth Cup next year is a blow to the development of the sport in the region.

The competition, which was scheduled for June 10-19 2021, was postponed by the International Netball Federation early this week, because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and St Lucia were all set to feature in the tournament.

“This is going to be a big disappointment for these countries, because the World Youth is the launching pad for many of the senior players in most, if not all, netball countries,” Bernard said.

“It will be a huge disappointment for players who would have been looking forward to taking part in this championship.

“We have to look at our umpires, because several of the international umpires also got their badges from their performance from the World Youth Cup.”

Bernard said that the administrators who were preparing are also saddened by the postponement of the tournament.

Netball Jamaica President Tricia Robinson said she supports the postponement of the tournament because the health of everyone comes first.

“We have to safeguard our sport and, in safeguarding the sport, we have to look at the person’s involvement,” she said. “We have to play in a safe space and it is not a safe space just now to play in, so the governing body made the decision.

“It is a disappointment for our netball, but we can’t complain because it is not only us it is affecting, it is affecting the world.”

robert.bailey@gleanerjm.com