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COACH of the TT Under-16 netball team Suzie Hyles-Lewis, said the love the community of St Paul Street showed them was overwhelming, as the residents welcomed the team with open arms by allowing them to use the court and supporting them during practice sessions.
The TT netballers returned home on April 13 as champions of the 21st Jean Pierre youth tournament, which was played at the Sir Garfield Sobers Sporting Complex in Bridgetown, Barbados. TT grabbed their first Jean Pierre title after winning five games in as many matches to seal the round-robin tournament ahead of Barbados, St Lucia, Grenada, Dominica and Antigua and Barbuda.
St Paul Street, located in East Port of Spain, is seen by some as a hot spot. Hyles-Lewis said it is not right for people to look down on the community.
In preparation for the tournament, the netballers trained at St Paul Street Sporting Complex, Nelson Mandela Park in St Clair and classroom sessions took place at St Francois Girls College in Belmont.
The team had a few sessions at the Eastern Regional Indoor Sports Arena in Tacarigua and at the Maloney Indoor Sports Complex.
TT returned home to a hero's welcome as family, media and permanent secretary of the Ministry of Sport and Community Development David Roberts were in attendance.
"I feel grateful, I feel honoured, it feels unreal that we actually pulled off the tournament (win)," Hyles-Lewis told Newsday. "It was a lot of sacrifices from not just the previous administration (TT Netball Association). To the new administration, to the players, to the parents, (I want to thank them)."
[caption id="attachment_1150002" align="alignnone" width="683"] TT netball captain Makayla Grant, left, during the 21st Jean Pierre Youth Netball tournament. - Photo courtesy Akil Pegus[/caption]
Speaking about their experience training at St Paul Street, Hyles-Lewis said, "We underrate different communities. I just want to specially mention the facility at St Paul Street. The person who runs there, Miss Annette O'Brien (gave us that support)...the hospitality we got from the community, the (TT) manager Jody Sprott lives in that same community. We want to say this place, that place is a bad place. I just want to heartfully thank Miss Annette O'Brien...the community of St Paul Street."
All the residents showed them that respect by stopping their basketball games to allow the netballers to train. "Even the basketballers when they are sweating and we tell them the Under-16s want to use the court (they stop). The love that we got from these sweaters (because it) is a national team. They said, 'It is a young national team, let us give them that time, let us give them that support, let them use the court.'"
Hyles-Lewis said the team also served as an inspiration to youngsters in the area. "When we were training there the community comes out, sit down, watch. They are telling their children, 'All yuh could be next. Pick up a sport.'"
Hyles-Lewis asked for more attention to be given to St Paul Street Sporting Complex.
In an effort to build the sport, Hyles-Lewis wants more investment from corporate TT.
This country was on top of world netball, jointly winning the 1979 World Netball Championships along with New Zealand and Australia, which was held in Trinidad. Jean Pierre, who the Caribbean youth tournament is named after, was the star for TT in the tournament. Hyles-Lewis said the TT netball legend will be smiling after the junior team brought home the trophy. "Jean Pierre is now finally resting because we brought it back where it finally belongs."
Pierre died in 2002.
TT squad:
Shoots: Makayla Grant, Shian Lewis, Tenicia Goodridge, Natalia Chapman
Centre court: Kelsea Gardner, Rayelle Boca, Adannaya Martin, Sophia Hernandez
Defence: Nefertiti Barrington, Aneisha Hyles, Kalvinelle Roberts, Jerusha Des Vignes
Reserves: Zweditu Alexander, Joeshel Jacob, Amara Bhagan
Coaches: Suzie Hyles-Lewis, Simone Morgan
Physio: David Mack
Trainer: Runako Gittens
Manager: Jody Sprott
Public relations: Akil Pegus
 
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