Apparently there was some confusion as to whether Roma would go for netball’s double this season.
The Cayman Islands Netball Association recently confirmed the reigning champions will field two teams in the national women’s competition. Roma will have an A and B squad in action in the association open league. Interestingly, both sides are slated to play each other this Saturday, 21 January, at 6.30pm at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex netball courts.
Association secretary Norma Ferryman explained the situation.
“Roma have lost some players with five off to college and some returning to their homeland,” Ferryman said. “Initially Roma was unable to have a B team in this league. Roma now has a A team and a B team.”
The idea of Roma possibly giving up on its B team is interesting. In May 2011 the side won the division crown in its first year of existence behind star talents Jahzenia Thomas and Anissa Owen. That title added to Roma’s haul as the A team beat All Stars A for their second consecutive national championship (the first came in 2010 in a victory over the now defunct Storm netball club).
By last October Roma’s B squad had lost more than three players, including Owen, defenders Renece Willis and Saneata Smith. All went off to university in Canada, England and Florida respectively.
Roma is affiliated with Roma United Sports Club (known for its premier league football squad) and its president Robert Sairsingh acknowledged previously that the B team would be tough to form.
“With our B team there is quite some rebuilding to do,” Sairsingh said. “We will have some challenges with the B team. Three of our players are overseas at university. We have some young girls that want to come in. But we’re talking very young, around 11 or 12-years-old, which might be too young.”
The A team by comparison is in good shape. Aside from defender Sudan Powell returning to her native Jamaica, the core of the side remains intact in attacking players Kay Copeland and Nicola Pringle along with defenders Carrie Barnett and Paula Hughes.
In addition to the Roma contest, Saturday also features Rising Stars in action as the A and B teams do battle against each other at 6.30pm.
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