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| Sunday, 21 April 2002 |
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Netball Interim Committee gets cracking by Leslie Fernando The Interim Committee of Netball headed by Tamara Dharmakeerthi Herath and ably assisted by other members of the committee Prema Bandara, Suranganie Wijendra and Anoma Jayawardena have met and confirmed their plans for the Commonwealth Games to be held in July-August in Manchester, England. The objective is to enhance optimum results utilising the available talent within the available time frame. As such, the committee has identified a few strategies to be implemented for which outside resource personal and sponsor may be required. However, they stated that the Ministry of Sports has extended its fullest co-operation to the program and development of the pool players. The netball pool will remain with the Sports Ministry. It is our intention only to help the Ministry with additional support. We are glad the Minister of Sports Johnston Fernando is very committed and keen to develop the game. The key strategies highlighted is given below-screening of selected players, through medical check-ups to establish player fitness and identify existing injury. Having evaluated each player, medical treatment to be provided by Dr. Geethanjan Mendis, head of Sports Medicine of the Ministry and his team of doctors. The preparation of the team-provide team with clothing (playing kit, track clothing, shoes), local acclimatization residential camping at the Peradeniya University for two weeks starting end of June this year. Dr. Dangolla, the President of Sports Association, Peradeniya University has been spoken to and he has readily acceded to our request. Additional support to be solicited from professional psychologist to motivate and educate them with scientific methods to harness strengthen in achieving the desired results. Obtain the services of a qualified physician to work with the team in order to enhance suppleness and reduce recovery period. To provide the coach with adequate material and exposure to new rules and new coaching techniques. Expose the team to match practice locally and internationally thereby building team spirit, enhancing teamwork and acquainting the team to different methods of play under different environment. Expose the team to international teams, take the team to another competitive netball playing country for adequate match exposure and bring in a competitive country to play in Sri Lanka. The pool will be pruned down to 18 players from 29 now in training. The final team will be picked in early June and to be approved by the Sports Ministry. Ten countries will compete in the netball tournament of the Commonwealth Games and will play in two groups. Group 'A' - New Zealand (last games runners-up), England, Wales, Canada and Sri Lanka. Group 'B' - Australia (defending champions), Fiji, Barbados, South Africa, Jamaica. Three coaches Yasa Ramachandra, Padma Gunawardena and Chandrani Pathiraja are in charge of the training pool. When contacted, Milton Amerasinghe, Director General Sports, Ministry of Sports said that the 18-member netball squad is in training under three coaches. The Sports Ministry is fully looking after the squad while the Interim Committee for Netball will offer additional support for the squad. The Ministry is also happy of the progress of the Interim Committee commitments towards the development and promotion of the sport. They are expected to submit their development plans to the Ministry and afterwards we will carefully study before giving the green light. The final 12 players to play in the Commonwealth Games will be selected only in June. But if the team is to go abroad for practise matches before the Commonwealth Games a trial will be held amongst the 18 players and best will go, said Amerasinghe. |
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