Five netball teams, representing five of the local primary schools, met at the Ronald Webster Park on Thursday, April 25th, for the start of the 2019 Anguilla Amateur Netball Tournament.
The girls’ sport, which features a tournament each year, is headed by President Delma Titre. She addressed the teams on the court, prior to Thursday’s first play-off, and gave them the assurance that she was there to make sure that they are properly groomed in the sport. She pledged to give them all the support they needed and provide all the coaching they require.
The traditional sponsor of the tournament has been ANGLEC. This is the eleventh year that ANGLEC is sponsoring the teams. ANGLEC’s Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Jemila Morson-Hodge, spoke to The Anguillian: “This is a long-standing commitment for ANGLEC. It has been our privilege and pleasure to support the netball teams for eleven years. We are very proud to sponsor these young ladies.
“Personally, this is my second year, and this is my most involved year. I wanted to make sure that we have some visibility and to make sure that we are hands-on in the process. I have been recently appointed as the Chairperson of the Donations & Partnership Committee, and so we really want to make our presence seen and have our voices heard.”
In expressing her hopes for the tournament, the President, Delma Titre, said: “We are in the eleventh year of this ANGLEC sponsored tournament. We are quite excited today because the move from one to eleven is a great achievement. We thank ANGLEC for all the support it has given us over the years.
“As we continue to develop the young ladies in Anguilla, we find that netball is the only all-female sport in Anguilla presently, so the Anguilla Amateur Netball Association is doing its best to get the girls engaged, and to represent their schools and their communities through this sport.
“We expect the girls to make their coaches proud. The coaches usually dedicate themselves by putting a lot into this sport. It is not easy to work and still stick to the routine of training the girls, but the coaches do put their hearts and souls into developing the girls in this sport, and I want to also thank them for their loyalty and commitment.
“I would like to encourage the parents, the communities, and the schools, to come out and give support to these young ladies. Come out as spectators and enjoy the sport. Come cheer on your favourite team.”
The tournament ends on May 2nd.
– Staff Reporter, James R. Harrigan
