UNDER-16 netballers will definitely make a trip to St Kitts to participate in a developmental division competition there this year, and they will win, opines president of the Guyana Netball Association (GNA) Dr Maxine Parris-Aaron.
The sport’s head said that the time is ripe for the youngsters’ advancement on the Caribbean stage and the April 8-17 Jean Pierre Youth (U-16) tournament would be a perfect yardstick to measure their growth.
Dr Parris-Aaron added that the executives decided against placing the youngsters in the ‘A’ division last year in order to “boost their morale” and to make them more motivated and competitive at the regional level.
She cited Jamaica as a prime motivational slayer: “The Jamaicans for example are frustrating for the players to play against since they are on the world stage.”
By playing against teams that are more on par with the junior Guyanese, Dr Parris-Aaron feels, and justifiably so, with their second-placed finish last year, that the youngsters can grow more in the sport.
Dr Parris-Aaron  said that the side were capable of lifting the trophy last year, but a tactical decision caused them the title. This year, however, the netball head is of the opinion that the side will be ready for all oppositions.
It was disclosed that the girls have been training for some time now and that the training will intensify as the competition date nears.
One of the rules of the developmental competition is that three players (older than 16, but younger than 19) are allowed to join the team.
In pre-empting a more competitive Guyanese junior side in future competitions the association has already earmarked and has started working with players for the 2012 tournament.
The GNA president  feels that once the junior girls win this competition their performance in the ‘A’ division of 2012 would be a lot more competitive than in previous years.