By Kiev Chesney
The sport of netball might not rank too highly in Guyana and this might be why when the Guyana Netball Association (GNA) held its presentation ceremony for 2007 yesterday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, all three of the major players in sports, Dr Frank Anthony, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, GOA president K.A. Juman Yassin and Director of Sport Neil Kumar were all absent.
According to GNA representatives, the three speakers could not be present at the ceremony because of unforeseen circumstances.
Absentees aside, the day’s activities commenced with the march pass of all the clubs proceeding from the National Cultural Centre tarmac to the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
After the mach pass was completed the formal proceedings began inside the sports hall, where players and coaches sat anxiously awaiting the recognition of their performances in last season’s competition in the form of trophies.
Although he had not originally been on the programme, Manager of the Cliff Ander-son Sports Hall, Basheer Khan, congratulated the winners and outstanding players and assured all the players and members of the association that the facility would always be available for netball.
The All Stars A team (Shattas), who were the winners of last year’s 16 and under competition, was the first team to be awarded for their success.
Next was second place finishers Doves Netball Club and in the third position was the All Stars B team (Angels).
The All Stars players also captured six of the seven best position awards, won by Ataybia Williams (wing attack), Monique Aaron (Wing defence), Natalie Vieira (goal defence), Shonette Estwick (Goal Attack), Kimberly Winters (Goal Shoot) and Natoya Vieira(Goal Keepers).
The awards for youngest, oldest, most promising players and best centre went to Keisha Sampson, Fiona Hamilton, Nekesha Butts and Althea Mingo, all of the Doves Netball Club.
Meanwhile in the 18-and-under category, the Emanie Netball Club enjoyed their share of success, carting off first and second place trophies as well as a barrage of individual honours. The honours were awarded to Quandie Small (Best Goal Keeper), Shantal Plass (Best Goal Shoot), Carnesha Perreira (Best Goals Attack), Robyn Thomas (Best Goal Defence), Keyola Brower (Best Wing Attack) and Christine Samuels (Most Improved Player) who also shared the Best Wing Defence honour with Doves’ Rhonda Fraser.
To accompany their third place finish in the 18 and under competition, Doves players Althea Mingo, (Best Centre) Nikisha Butts (Most Improved Player) got individual trophies.
All Stars victory in the open category was again accompanied by many individual honours including the best Wing Attack and Best Goal Attack which went to Yatoya Adams and Kalia Huggins respectively.
The Best Coach award was shared by Lawrence Kellman and Lavern Fraser-Thomas, while Randolph Critchlow won the Most Promising Coach award.
