IN 2009 the Guyana Netball Association (GNA) endured a torrid time due to various reasons, but still managed to achieve some amount of success, though not what they wanted, but the little that was achieved was self-gratifying.

This was according to secretary of the GNA Lawrence Griffith, who said this year they expect to hit the ground running, as they intend to make this year, the beginning of a decade of continuous netball as never before seen here locally.

The first item on the agenda is an executive board meeting which is scheduled for tomorrow while on Friday a meeting is set with the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport (MCYS) Dr Frank Anthony in his Main Street office. 

On Sunday January 17, the council meeting will be held from 14:00 h while the annual General Meeting (AGM) ii set for February 14.

A take-away lunch will be held during Mash as part of our fundraising activities while a raffle is also on the cards.

The GNA’s 2010 season will open in March with the traditional march past of teams, after which the Inter-club Under-16 competition will commence. The Under-23 Inter-club competition is set for April month-end and the seniors’ mid-May. Two overseas tournaments are listed for participation.

From April 8 to 18, the Caribbean Netball Association (CAN) will be staging The Jean Pierre Youth tournament for players 16 years and under in Barbados and the GNA is looking at sending a team, having done so last year when it was held in Jamaica.

That was a major achievement for the Association, in terms of the cost they incurred to get the team to the Reggae Island.

This year’s tournament will be divided into two groups, The Developmental Group and the Established Group, with Guyana, Turks & Caicos, Anguilla, Cayman Islands, Bahamas, Nevis, Bermuda, BVI and St Marten being placed in the Developmental group.

The Established Group comprises Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, Grenada, St Lucia, St Vincent, Antigua, St Kitts and hosts Barbados.

The Developmental Group are for countries that have not attained a high level of play and it will be used to give them an opportunity to play at the higher level.

In July-August the Seniors will be engaged in a competition at a venue to be named.

Later this year St Lucia will be staging a Vintage Tournament for players 40 years and over. Guyana may not be able to field a team, but persons who have attained the age can attend and team up with other players from other countries.

We also plan to organise a schools tournament which will be sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport and systems are being put in place to ensure that this tournament is a success.

One of our biggest obstacles is the lack of playing facilities and we hope to work with the Government and Corporate Guyana to make this a reality, with areas such as Linden, Bartica, Berbice, Kwakwani, Essequibo and of course Georgetown which are strong netball playing areas, being targeted.

Special thanks to all those who contributed to our limited success in 2009 and we expect them to continue supporting us in 2010.

To all those who assisted us in getting to Jamaica we thank you a hundredfold and to those who wanted to assist but could not we also thank you and look forward for your contribution in 2010.

To the media we are grateful to have you around and we say sincere thanks and we hope that our cordial relationship will continue in 2010.

To the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, thanks for all that was done and we expect more this year.