In sports coaches have as big of an impact as the players. That fact should be evident this Saturday, 1 October, in the women’s flag football finals.
The Hammerheads Lady Sharks and Domino’s Pizza Wolverines square off in the Dart Women’s League championship match (put on by the Grand Cayman Flag Football Association). At 11am at the Camana Bay field, focus will be on Hammerheads head coach Andrew Wisdom and Wolverines coaches Renford Barnes, Oliver Parker and Rex Whittaker.
Association cofounder Sophia Dilbert, who plays for the Andro Killa-Panthers women’s team, states their mannerisms are unique.
“They have distinctly different coaching styles,” Dilbert said. “Andrew, Oliver and Rex are all passionate guys while Renford is more laid back and composed with his players. His passion is expressed differently as he seems composed on the sidelines.”
Hammerheads go into the contest seeking a second straight championship. Similarities between this year’s campaign and 2010 include the presence of star athletes like Bobeth O’Garro, Scimone Campbell and Courtisha Ebanks and a familiar supporting cast in Kathy Miller, Hong Nguyen, Keisha Anglin and Ellen Downey.
The Wolverines meanwhile are a rookie side with veteran coaches in Barnes and Parker (who won last year with the Hammerheads). Some former Hammerheads players now don red and black in Alexandra Terry, Catherine Ebanks and Christsania McLean.
Saturday’s contest figures to be a defensive struggle. Hammerheads feature explosive cornerback Lilia Conolly and tackle machine Serena Yates while the Wolverines sport play-makers like Benecia Thompson and Jahzenia Thomas.
Dilbert states for all of the knowledge on the sidelines, it’s the talent on the field that will decide this year’s winner.
“Based on the last game it will be a battle of defensive strategies. The game ultimately comes down to the players finding gaps in the defence. Both are strong offensive teams.”
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