‘Ja’s water polo teams should shine at Carifta’
JAMAICA’S water polo teams will look to make use of home advantage when the XXV Carifta Swimming Championship starts on April 3.
Earlier this week, the Amateur Swimming Association of Jamaica (ASAJ) released the female and male 19 and under teams that will compete in the four-day tournament.
Water polo is a swimming sport where the hand is used to pass the ball to team members, or to shoot at the opponent’s goal. A team traditionally consists of seven players, including a goalkeeper .
Jamaica’s female team is coached by Hungarian native Milan Bartanics, while the male team takes orders from Marlon McIntyre and Nakemo Mattocks
Speaking on Wednesday at the teams’ training session at the Bournemouth Bath Pool, manager Lance Rochester said he expects favourable results against the likes of Trinidad and Tobago and Curacao.
“All in all, we’re doing a fairly good job because we had some limitations in terms of the closure of the Stadium (pool), in terms of lack of lighting and in terms of lack of equipment.
“At this stage we’re looking for good results from the teams and we’re looking to fine-tune in the remaining days leading up to the championship,” he said.
McIntyre said the boys should put on a good show despite the obstacles faced.
“The majority of the team has been together for a couple years now, so though the preparation has been hampered, we hope that the experience of some of the guys should carry us through.
“We didn’t start training as soon as we have would liked. (We started)… about February of this year, so we have been set- back a whole lot. Even then, it won’t be a walkover for those teams because we will be giving our all,” he said.
Added McIntyre: “Carifta is really preparation for the Caribbean Swimming Championship which will be held in Cuba in June. For us, Carifta is really the stepping stone for that championship.”
TEAMS:
Females — Leigh- Ann Lewars (captain), Rashida Brown, Christina Burke, Ashley Henry, Ashley Kumst, Kristen Jones, Gabrielle Morrison, Gabrielle Mesquita, Rasia Reid, Courtney Roberts and Samantha Simms.
Males — Zawdie Coke, Darron- Ray Donaldson, Adrian Fisher, Stefan Grant, Paul Henry, Jonathan Hernould, Arthur Jefferson, Nicholas Jones, Matthew Mason, David Millwood, Corey Richards, Akua Walters, Christoffe Wynter.
