JAMAICA will for the first time host the 2000 Caribbean Netball Association Annual Youth (Under-16) Tournament from December 7-18 at the Leila Robinson Courts.
Nine teams, playing a maximum seven games each, will take part in this year's tournament. The teams are defending champions St. Vincent and Grenadines, Grenada, Dominica and Cayman Islands from Group A. Barbados, St .Lucia, Jamaica and Antigua and Barbuda and Trinidad and Tobago from Group B.
Jamaica, who won the tournament and the Lucille Seymour Trophy when the competition was first held in Antigua in 1998, will open their account against Antigua and Barbuda on Sunday, December 10 on Court 1 of the Leila Robinson Courts at 5:30 p.m.
Jamaica did not participate in last year's tournament which was held in Barbados as the local association opted to concentrate on getting funds to finance the team to the World Under-21 tournament in New Zealand.
Stamina, from the Jamaica Producers Group, is the main sponsor and the official drink of the tournament - with a total sponsorship of $250,000.
According to the organising committee of the tournament, headed by president of the Jamaica Netball Association, Molly Rhone, the overall cost of hosting the tournament is $1.5 million. Rhone said she hoped to get additional sponsors between now and next month in "cash and kind".
"As hosts we will be hoping to win the title. I am confident that are our girls will do well," said Rhone at a press conference held at Jamrock Cafe.
