Paul-André Walker, Staff Reporter
Marva Bernard - RUDOLPH BROWN/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
WITH THE arrival of England's senior netball team less than two weeks away, the Sunshine Girls will have to follow the dictates of a new coach.
Oberon Pitterson will take up duties as the senior netball coach, while her predecessor, Janet Guy will now take up duties as head of the Under-21 squad.
Contrary to popular belief surrounding the move, Jamaica Netball Association (JNA) president Marva Bernard has unequivocally stated that Guy has not been demoted.
"We are starting to prepare for the Under-21 Championships in 2009 and we have asked Janet (Guy) to work on that," she said.
"It is not a demotion," she added. "Guy is the most successful coach we have when it comes to that age group," said Bernard.
Pointing to the fact that Guy was the coach that led the Under-21s to a silver medal in the World Championships held in Wales in 2003, Bernard has said that she has much respect for Guy's ability to get the best from young players.
BEST RESULTS
As a matter of fact, Bernard is of the opinion that the coaching changes, given the limited number of national coaches available can provide the best results for Jamaica in the long term.
To that end, Joan Cargill, who was the Under-21 coach that led the team to a fourth placed finish in last year's World Youth Netball Championships will now head the Under-16s.
Another burning question was whether or not Pitterson, who has given yeoman's service to Jamaica's netball as a player, is ready to take on senior team duties, especially with the Commonwealth Games so near at hand?
"I believe strongly in giving young people opportunities to grow into jobs. If we don't train our young people then when the old ones can't go on anymore there won't be any succession and the organisation will die," said Bernard.
"We supported Oberon as a player and we'll continue to support her now in every way," she said, adding that netball fans would have to be patient with the national programme during their rebuilding phase.
GIRLZ FAILS TO WIN
"Oberon did not disgrace herself in St. Kitts. The children were young and on the given day it didn't go well," said Bernard. Her reference was to the recently held Under-16 Caribbean Champion-ships in St. Kitts where Jamaica failed to win for the first time.
Pitterson will have the advantage of having Maureen Hall alongside her during the teething stages of the coaching process.
Hall coached Jamaica's senior team to their best ever third placed finish at the World Championships in 2003. That championships was held at the National Indoor Sports Centre in Jamaica.
