Barbados Prepares for Jean Pierre Caribbean Youth Netball Tournament at Garfield Sobers Sports Complex in April: Coach Greenidge Confident in Team's Abilities

Barbadian sports fans could be in for a treat from the region’s future netball stars when the 24th edition of the Jean Pierre Caribbean Youth Netball Tournament comes off at the Gymnasium of the Garfield Sobers Sports Complex in Wildey, April 6-13.

St Lucia, Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua and Barbuda and the 2024 losing finalists Grenada all announced their intentions of dethroning Barbados when a link-up launch was held on Thursday at the Barbados Olympic Association’s headquarters in Wildey.

However, coach Cameron Greenidge who is in his seventh year in charge of the Barbados Under-16 team, confidently said the Baby Gems will be providing a show for the public as they go after their fourth successive regional title.

“We have been training extremely hard since last September where we began with 26 talented players,” he said. “By next week, we will have our final 12 and three reserves. With four players returning from last year’s championship squad and the versatility of our mid-court and defence, we have the team to win for the fourth time.

“It is only in the shooting circle that Barbados will be specialising but all of the other players have shown the skills and talent to play any position that we ask of them.”

Responding to a question about how he felt Barbados would have fared against the region’s top team, Jamaica, who are skipping the tournament, Greenidge said: “While persons may ask how we would fare against Jamaica, I said when I was first appointed that we would beat Jamaica if they participated and I stand by that statement with this team.”

Jamaica, who are ranked No. 3 in the world, seldom take part in age group tournaments in the Caribbean.

The last time they participated in the Under-16 competition was in Barbados in 2016 where they defeated the home team in the final. That provided revenge for the 2005 loss in St Kitts where they lost to Barbados in the final.

Sharing Greenidge’s confidence was returning defender Nyah Oughterson, who asked all of Barbados to come out and give them the support at The Gym.

Intense training

“Our training has been very intense but we are sure it will work out in the end. We are ready and we just want all of Barbados to come and give us their support,” she said.

President of the Barbados Netball Association Dr Carmeta Douglin said the price tag for hosting was originally set at $200 000 but securing help with the transportation of the teams reduced that overall cost.