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Netballers shift focus to Open League

Following on the heels of Jamaica's Sunshine Girls' bronze medal placing at this year's World Netball Championships (WNC), which ended in Auckland, New Zealand last Saturday, a number of the country's top players will be on show today when the 2007-08 Jamaica Netball Association (JNA) league season shoots off at the Leila Robinson Courts.

The year-to-year competitions gets going with an opening ceremony and dress parade that will feature all participants in the Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS) Open League, starting at 1:00 p.m.

Girls on parade

On show will be Simone Forbes and Nichala Gibson for Waul-grovians, Kasey Evering, Cleopatra Grant and Peter-Gaye Thomas for Tivoli Gardens, Christina Solmon for Molynes United, Sasha Gaye Henry of Police National Byfield with Blades United and Romelda Aiken, Nadine Bryan and Paula Thompson, all of Jamalco.

Pat Thomas, organiser of the league, said she is looking forward to an exciting season from all the teams.

"I think this will be a very competitive season. I believe a lot of people will turn out to watch these matches, based on our performance at the WNC and most of the games were televised, more persons are now drawn to the sport," she said.

After the uniform parade, a game will be played between the JNBS netball team and Jamaica Under-16 team, after which the Jo Wigman Rally will be played.

Fifty-eight teams

Tivoli Gardens 'A' are the defending rally champions, as they defeated Jamalco in the finals last year. Tivoli are also the Open League champions.

Fifty-eight teams have entered the competition, including newcomers Correctional Services Community Club, East Central Sports Club, Hellshire United, Maxfield Park Community Club and Millenium Strikers.