Netball’s Bernard wants improvement ahead of ‘CommGames’
NETBALL Jamaica boss Marva Bernard is confident of an improved showing from the Sunshine Girls at the XX Commonwealth Games which begins in a few weeks’ time in Scotland.
The Jamaicans were fourth at the 2006 Games in Melbourne, Australia and followed up with a similar finish four years later in Delhi, India.
Though the Sunshine Girls are currently ranked fourth in the world, Bernard is pushing for Jamaica to upset the applecart and barge into a medal position.
“If they execute we should get a better result than we have had in the last two Commonwealth Games… in 2006 and 2010,” the netball president said at Thursday’s Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) press conference at the Pegasus Hotel.
A blend of young and experienced players will don the national colours at the Championships. The Girls will be guided by Australian Jill McIntosh, who is their technical director, as well as coach Minneth Reynolds.
“I’m very confident and hopeful that they will go over there and execute all that they have learnt. They have worked tremendously hard in the last three months. Their support staff has put them through gruelling paces. To their credit they have not complained and they have not run away from it,” added Bernard.
Major Desmon Brown, the chef de mission of the delegation to Glasgow, gave a thumbs up to the facilities at the Athletes’ Village for the Games.
Bernard told the Sunday Observer that she expects adequate accommodation for the netball delegation during their stay in the British country.
“We have always been comfortable with the arrangements made by the JOA for us. Each country has its peculiarities so Kuala Lumpur [the Malaysian capital] was really very hot. India was also hot and dusty, but in terms of how the JOA staff takes care of things, we have absolutely no concerns. We are very pleased to say it has been first-class [in the past].”
The 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow is set for July 23 to August 3.
Historically, Scotland is known to have generally cool weather during its summer months.
— Sanjay Myers
