THE GUYANA National netball team arrived in Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) last Friday, seeking to qualify for the 2014 Commonwealth Games which will be held in Glasgow, Scotland.
They were due to clash with the defending AFNA champions and host nation in the opening match of the tournament yesterday at the Jean Pierre Complex, Port of Spain.
The Americas Federation of Netball Associations (AFNA) Championships is bi-annual series and the Guyanese players will start at a terrible disadvantage, having arrived without much practice for the Championships before their opening match.
Guyana take on the less-fancied St Lucia in the second round match today at the Jean Pierre Complex where all the matches will be played on newly-prepared courts. The match is set for Court 1 and starts at 16:00hrs.
Although T&T are the defending champions, Jamaica will start as firm favourites to re-capture the crown they won in 2008 when the AFNA tournament was staged in Jamaica, as they have been the most dominant force regionally and are fourth best at the world level behind Australia, New Zealand and England.
T&T, who finished eighth at the last World Championships, are rated as the second best in the region behind Jamaica who did not participate in the 2010 AFNA tournament that was staged in St Lucia.
In other second round matches, Jamaica will tangle with Grenada on Court 1 from 18:45hrs; USA and Barbados clash on Court 2 from 16:15hrs while T&T and Canada will treat the crowd with their own styles on Court 3 from 16:30hrs.
However, the Guyanese players face their biggest challenge when they attempt to create history against the mighty Jamaicans on Court 1 tomorrow from 17:30hrs, an encounter that will fully test the calibre and class of the Guyanese who must rise to the occasion and prove their worth.
It will be no easy task to stop the Jamaicans but they must put up stern resistance and make the Jamaicans fight for every point, as this type of approach will enhance their reputation and overall confidence for future engagements.
The Guyanese players must believe in themselves and display grit and determination to conquer the mightiest of opponents.
Although the odds are heavily stacked against them accomplishing such lofty and ambitious goals, the players must approach each game, regardless of the calibre and strength of the opposition, with optimism and special game plan to upset the rhythm and style and be competitive until the final whistle.
The big question to ask is whether the Guyana players are fully prepared for these enormous challenges.
The answers will be known during the various matches against opponents who also will be aiming for better results than their previous outings at these regional championships.
On the other hand, the Jamaicans will be out to regain their supremacy and would be seeking to dominate every match in their quest for glory and another opportunity to qualify for the next Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
The Jamaicans usually are well-prepared for these championships. Some of their top players have enhanced their overall skills and gained international experience in professional leagues in England and the Trans-Tasman Pro-League in Australia/New Zealand.
In the other rounds; Guyana play Barbados on Tuesday from 17:45hrs on Court 2 and USA on Wednesday on Court 1 from 17:00hrs. They have a bye on Thursday (July 19) and will be vying for honours again against Canada on Court 2 on Friday from 18:00hrs.
Their overall fitness will have to be at the optimal level as they will be involved in two matches next Saturday. Fortunately, they take on Grenada in the morning from 09:00hrs on Court 1 then return to the Complex in the afternoon to play Bermuda on Court 3 from 18:00hrs.
Comparatively, these are the other weaker teams in the championships and by then the Guyanese players should have strengthened their overall resolve, fitness and playing experience to prevail over these less powerful counterparts.
Meanwhile, the T&T team’s manager Vanessa Forde is upbeat about her team’s chances and suggested that they will be a major force to contend with during the nine-team tournament.
Forde said: “Our preparations have gone well and the girls have been in intensive and rigorous training for some time. They played practice matches against the Trinidad and Tobago national men’s team and we are pleased with what we saw them do against the men players.”
While enjoying home advantage and a reputation as one of the top teams in the tournament, Forde emphasised that they will not be taking any team lightly. She stressed that: “We are approaching the tournament with a positive mindset but we also recognise that all the teams have their own strengths and weaknesses. We’re going to play to our best in every game and hopefully we can retain the title.”
Former national senior player Lavern Fraser-Thomas has been named as Guyana’s national coach but she did not travel with the team which arrived in Trinidad at 18:40hrs on Friday. She was expected to join the squad yesterday but at the time of writing, her arrival could not be confirmed.
In her absence, Shona-Mae Baptiste who is her assistant will perform the duties. Baptiste was attending the coaches meeting when I tried to get more information in relation to the team.

AFNA Championships 2012 fixtures
VENUE: Jean Pierre Complex, POS.
SUNDAY, July 15
Court 1: Guyana vs St Lucia, 16:00hrs
Court 2: USA vs Barbados, 16:15hrs
Court 3: T&T vs Canada, 16:30hrs
Court 1: Jamaica vs Grenada17:15hrs
Bye: Bermuda

MONDAY, July 16
Court 1: Jamaica vs Guyana, 17:30hrs
Court 2: Canada vs Barbados, 17:45hrs
Court 3: St Lucia vs USA, 18:00hrs
Court 1: T&T vs Bermuda, 18:00hrs
Bye: Grenada

TUESDAY, July 17
Court 1: USA vs Bermuda, 17:30hrs
Court 2: Barbados vs Guyana, 17.45hrs
Court 3: Grenada vs T&T, 18:00hrs
Court 1: Canada vs Jamaica, 18:30hrs Bye: St Lucia

WEDNESDAY, July 18
Court 1: St Lucia vs Bermuda, 09:00hrs
Court 1: USA vs Guyana, 17:30hrs
Court 2: Grenada vs Barbados, 17:45hrs
Court 3: Bermuda vs Canada, 18:00hrs
Court 1: T&T vs St Lucia, 18:30hrs
Bye: Jamaica

THURSDAY, July 19
Court 1: Canada vs Grenada, 09:00hrs
Court 1: Barbados vs Jamaica, 17:30hrs
Court 2: USA vs T&T, 17:45hrs
Court 3: Bermuda vs Grenada, 18:00hrs
Court 1: St Lucia vs Canada, 18:30hrs
Bye: Guyana

FRIDAY, July 20
Court 1: Bermuda vs Jamaica, 09:00hrs
Court 1: St Lucia vs Grenada, 17:30hrs
Court 2: Barbados vs T&T, 17:45hrs
Court 3: Guyana vs Canada, 18:00hrs
Court 1: USA vs Jamaica, 18:30hrs

SATURDAY July 21
Court 1: Guyana vs Grenada, 09:00hrs
Court 1: Canada vs USA, 17:30hrs
Court 2: Barbados vs St Lucia, 17:45hrs
Court 3: Guyana vs Bermuda, 18:00hrs
Court 1: T&T vs Jamaica, 18:30hrs
Closing Ceremony and Presentation, 19:45hrs