Contributed
Members of the national Under-16 netball team and Maurice Bryan (right), Digicel's promotions and sponsorships manager, are in a jubilant mood as they celebrate the team's victory in the Jean Pierre Regional Youth Championship in Trinidad and Tobago. Bryan turned out to congratulate the team and bring gifts of commendation on Saturday, December 2 at Alhambra Inn, shortly after the young Sunshine Girls arrived in the island from Trinidad. The cost of the Under-16 team's participation in the championship was underwritten by Digicel.
Telecommunications provider Digicel has extended congratulations to the national Under-16 netball team on its winning ways in the Jean Pierre Regional Youth Championship in Trinidad and Tobago.
"We at Digicel and the country in general are extremely proud of the girls and elated at their unbeaten record at the regional championships this year. We want to commend you on your outstanding performance," Maurice Bryan, Digicel's sponsorship and promotions manager said, while celebrating with the young Sunshine Girls at a special function at Alhambra Inn, after their arrival in the island last Saturday.
The girls won all seven games at the championship.
Bryan added: "As sponsors of the Under-16 team and the Sunshine Girls, we are confident that the future of netball in Jamaica is very bright. Keep up the great work."
He also commended the coaching staff, saying: "The coaching team has been doing a consistent job in preparing the girls for the competitive challenges. They have kept the girls focused and very prepared physically and mentally."
Bryan promised that Digicel will continue to give its strong backing to the development of the sport. They now have a $5 million commitment with the Jamaica Netball Association (JNA) for the development of the national Under-16 netball team, as well as the senior Sunshine Girls.
The first tranche of $1 million from this sponsorship package went towards underwriting the cost of the Under-16 team's participation in the Jean Pierre Regional Youth Championship.
The second tranche of $2.5 million will be provided next year and will be used to underwrite the cost of the Sunshine Girls' participation in the World Championships in Fiji, from the 10th to the 21st of July 2007. The remainder of the funds will be used to support the development programme.
Digicel is also the title sponsor of the Inter-secondary Schools' Sports Association (ISSA) schoolgirls netball tournament through a $5.5 million contract that will run for three years.
The first instalment of $1 million was handed over to ISSA during the official opening ceremony of this year's senior and junior competitions, which was won by Dunoon and Queen's High schools respectively, on Thursday. An additional two million will be disbursed next year, while the remaining $2.5 million will be handed over in 2008.
'MVP trophy means a lot'
Christina Salmon conquered all defences at Under-16 level in the region, scorching them all with 188 goals from 196 attempts - an amazing shooting percentage of 95.92.
Now the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the Caribbean championship in Trinidad and Tobago is using that success as additional inspiration for challenges to come in senior competition.
"This MVP trophy means a lot for my career because it boosts my confidence for the future and I am now aiming to go to the Under-21 team," the 15-year-old Salmon explained while displaying silverware she earned for notching the tournament-high goal tally, on their arrival at the Norman Manley International Airport last Saturday.
Smiling from cheek-to-cheek, the 6ft. 1in. Tarrant High School student added: "I am feeling great because I worked hard for these trophies.
"I attend training every day, work hard, shoot hard and played my best so I am very grateful for all of this success."
She added: "It wasn't difficult for me playing against the other teams in Trinidad and Tobago because their defence wasn't that strong and we were well prepared from Jamaica so it wasn't much of a challenge."
- R. Bailey
'We were determined'
Sasha-Gaye Lynch, captain of the Jamaica Under-16 netball team, says they were determined to regain the Caribbean Under-16 championship title.
The team won for the seventh time in eight championships at the recently-
concluded tournament in Trinidad and Tobago.
Last year they lost one match against Barbados by two points in what turned out to be the Jamaicans' only loss in the tournament's history.
"It was just a slight mistake that we made against Barbados that lost us the match last year and we were determined that we were going to get it back this year," said Lynch, who now has her sight set on securing a place in the Under-21 squad.
"I am feeling very happy," added the 15-year-old Lynch who attends St. Hugh's High. "My teammates were always there for me; we helped out each other a lot in whatever way we could."
- R. Bailey
