2006 Women's World Championship – Jamaica
Jamaican expectations high ahead of World Championships (FIVB)
04/13/2005
April 13, 2005 - Jamaica's Volleyball fraternity is
tingling with excitement ahead of the 2006 Women’s World
Championship first round tournament (Norceca Pool A)
which will be held in Kingston from April 15-17.
The World Championships, the most high-ranking
Volleyball tournament to be held in Jamaica, will
include the British Virgin Islands (BVI), Cayman Islands
and the Netherlands Antilles.
"It will be a test of our organisational skills somewhat
as this is the most prestigious tournament the country
will ever host,” Jamaica Volleyball boss Carole Beckford
said. “But we have all areas covered."
The winning country from the four-team tournament will
advance to round two, set for the Dominican Republic in
August, and will join Costa Rica, the host country and
Cuba. The top three countries from round two will
advance to next year's World Championships in Japan.
Beckford added that Volleyball Information System (VIS)
experts are in the island training officials and
volunteers. Over 100 volunteers have already made
themselves available.
"I am happy with the response so far and owe a debt of
gratitude to former netball association president Vilma
McDonald who will be coordinating the activities of the
volunteers," Beckford pointed out.
Volunteers will fill roles as liaison officers, ushers,
linesmen, ball handlers, floor moppers, scorers,
statisticians and members of the Secretariat. General
secretary of the Jamaica Volleyball Association (JaVA)
Dr Jon Jones will head the secretariat.
VIS instructor Yueniva Pascual will specifically train
the volunteers.
Meanwhile, Jamaican coach Ortnel Findlay says
preparation has been good and her team has been looking
forward to the occasion.
"The vibes are lively and we are anticipating a great
competition - and everybody is dedicated. We hope to
keep focus on the task ahead of us and won't chicken out
on the day," she stressed.
Findlay noted that the girls stamped their class at the
Caribbean Championships when they finished second, but
warned that the World Championships are a different
kettle of fish.
"This is a World Championship tournament...," she said.
In their last World Championships in 2002, the Jamaican
girls advanced from the first round but came up short in
the second round in the Dominican Republic.
Jamaica has played a number of practice games against
their male counterparts and have done very well, Findlay
added.
She noted that the team was strong in attack, and
defence and back-court players have been getting better.
The team welcomes the return of Paula Ann Porter-Jones
and Annie Williams Lewis, and boast outside hitters
Tracy-Ann Pryce and Ptanomy Fletcher, two of Jamaica's
best defensive players.
Jamaica open their campaign on Friday, April 15, against
the Cayman Islands in the feature game at 8:00 pm. Two
hours earlier, BVI take on the Netherlands Antilles in
the opener.
The opening ceremony is scheduled for a 4:30 pm start.
Jamaica will also play BVI on Saturday and the
Netherlands Antilles on Sunday, both at 8:00 pm.
