Netball Youth World Cup squad faces $11.5m deficit
Published:Thursday | July 24, 2025 | 12:08 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
JAMAICA’S UNDER-21 netballers have been preparing intensely for the Netball Youth World Cup in Gibraltar, to be held from September 19 - 28; however, Netball Jamaica is currently experiencing an $11.5-million shortfall in its efforts to get the team to the premier competition for emerging players.
Netball Jamaica (NJ) President Karen Baugh said the intention is to get the young ladies to Gibraltar at least a week and a half in advance, so they can get acclimatised.
The Government has already contributed $4 million to cover accommodation, and the Bob Marley Foundation and JPS have been quite helpful with their support, but Baugh said a massive gap still exists, with their plans for departure only six weeks away.
“Airfare alone is $6.5 million, and if we were to carry 15 players it would be more. Right now we are at 12 players, and we would like to carry 15 because we can have three reserves who can travel with the team, and the coaches would wish to have them there.”
She said they also need an additional $2.5m for meals and $2.5m for per diem and transportation.
Baugh pointed out that Jamaica has always participated and done well at world tournaments, and that she is confident corporate Jamaica will come to their rescue.
“It would not be a good look for Jamaica to not be at this tournament, as we have always qualified for senior and junior World Cups.
“We have gotten assistance from the Government, who covered the accommodations, and we have had some support from the Bob [Marley] Foundation.
“What we are trying to identify are funds to cover airfare and meals in particular, and the small per diem that the players receive.
“We have been negotiating with a few partners, but things are not coming to a head at the time that we need it to. So we are really appealing to corporate Jamaica for support.
“We are talking to all our funders. We have a lot of conversations going on in the background and I am confident that a way will be found. There is no way that we are not going to turn up at the tournament.
“But we do not want it to be said that we did not let it be known. So if any corporate entity wants to support, they should, as this is the future of our netball,” she stated.
Baugh noted that the last Youth World Cup was held eight years ago in Botswana, and that it has left a gulf in their youth development programmes.
Nevertheless, she said the current team has progressed well under coach Annette Daley’s supervision, and that she expects a strong showing at the tournament.
“The girls have been preparing from last year, and have been training intensely since the beginning of this year.
“The plan is for them to leave on the 10th of September. The tournament starts on the 19th and we play our first game on the 21st. The idea is for them to get there eight to 10 days before to get acclimatised to the climate and the surroundings.
“The last one was more than four years ago, because COVID intervened. And so we haven’t had a Youth World Cup for a while. So we are rebuilding our youth netball programmes to match up with the rest of the world,” she said.
“We won the qualifiers last year in Guadeloupe, and the team has been steadily building under coach Annette Daley. So I am not concerned that they will go there and not do their best. I have seen the progression in the last six months.
“We have a mix of talent from different parishes and a few players out of England.
“There is more work to be done until they step out on the court. But we are on the right path. Some youth programmes took a break because of COVID, and so that rebuilding process, we do not want to derail it. We want to keep pushing. So it is imperative that this team gets to the World Cup and gets there with all of the things necessary at their disposal.”