Sport

Ja basketballers ready

By RAYMOND GRAHAM, Freelance Writer

JAMAICA'S SENIOR MALE and female basketball teams will be leaving the island this Friday for Santiago, Cuba where they will take part in the Caricom Basketball tournament between June 12-17.

For the past two weeks the teams have been busy preparing at the G.C. Foster College where they have been camping.

Training twice a day, the male team is being guided by technical director Elfrato Remekie. The female team is being conditioned by Rerita Esahnson.

The male team, which has a squad of 14, is made up of mostly overseas-based players with only Andre Grant, Michael Jackson and Kali McCarthy being the local-based players.

Inexperienced team

Although the preparation time is a bit short, coach Remekie is very optimistic going into the championship.

"With the exception of Oneil Kamaka and Michael Kennedy, who played in the last tournament, we have a very young and inexperienced team but the guys will be up to the challenge," said Remekie.

Remekie said it will be the first occasion so many overseas-based players will be making it as most of them are on scholarship including Mugabe Thomas.

Remekie stated that the camp has done wonders for the group as everybody has jelled well and he expects them to do well.

Jamaica will be hoping to return to success like they had in the early 80s but Remekie believes this time around it will not be that easy. In the last tournament, held two years ago, the team finished fifth and the coach is hoping this time around they will at least be among the top three.

"It will be harder this time around as teams like Cuba are now in the competition. We are in the group of death with Cuba and past champions Bahamas. Two teams will advance to the semi-finals and we are hoping to advance so we can at least finish in the top three," continued Remekie.

The top three teams in the tournament will get a chance to advance to the Centro Basketball Tournament where they will play against teams such as Brazil, which will then give them a chance to move on to bigger tournaments such as the Olympics.

"It will be tough getting out of our group but if we can at least beat the Bahamas we are pretty certain that we can get out of the group," Remekie said.

Training camp

The Technical Director was thankful to the various organisations that have contributed to the sponsorship of the team at G.C Foster College. He mentioned Air Jamaica, which is discounting the team's airfare to the tournament, Pepsi for providing Gatorade, Western Sports and Sports Gear for providing uniform and the Jamaica Basketball Association, which is footing the bill for the training camp at G.C. Foster College.

"I am hoping the players will stay focused and will challenge their energy in the right way. Once they maintain composure and dedication then I see no reason why they should not do extremely well," concluded Remekie.

FEMALE TEAM

For coach Esahnason this will be her third chance as she has been in charge of teams at tournaments in Barbados and the Dominican Republic.

The female squad includes 13 players with nine being local based. Overseas based players include Chevamese Samms, Simone Jackson, who plays for South Illinois and Althea Byfield, who was a member of Jamaica's netball team at the last World Championships

Esahnason is pleased with the training camp.

Fine-tuning

"I am very pleased with the progress so far as most of the players have been involved in tournaments this season and we are in the process of fine-tuning. Our players are not big but they are very athletic and this will play a key factor," said the coach.

Esahnason believes the players are communicating well and this will also be a key factor in the result as they hope to improve on their third placed finish in Barbados in the last tournament.

The coach will be relying heavily on the veteran Oberon Pitterson who, similar to Byfield, was a part of the World Netball team.

"Pitterson will bring a lot of experience to the team as she played professional basketball in Europe for a few areas and with that experience the other players will learn a lot from her," said coach Esahnason.

The coach also believes Shawnette Redley will bring a lot of experience to the table as she also is a past representative to the tournament.

Although her players are not as tall as their opponents, the coach does not see this as a problem.

"I never underestimate the ability of players," she said. "Although they are small, they are very determined. I am a believer and I think their chances are as good as any other."