Three join hands to hone age-group squads

SINGAPORE'S bid to host the 2011 World Netball Championship and post a top-10 showing has received a boost.

Netball Singapore (NS) has agreed with the Co-Curricular Activities Branch (CCAB) and the Singapore Sports School to jointly develop the national Under-14 and Under-17 squads.

The two age-group squads will replace the Combined Schools sides.

Said NS president Tan Wee Khim: 'The key to achieving a sports culture lies in the school sports scene.

'This collaboration combines the resources of all three organisations, from coaches and facilities, to funding.'

Added the CCAB's deputy director, Andrew Chew: 'We hope that more national sporting associations will follow suit in order to aid youth development in sports.'

Singapore, the 2005 Asian Championship winners, are keen on a strong youth programme to upgrade the sport and avoid the 19-107 thrashing by Australia in last year's Commonwealth Games.

To achieve this, the youth squads will now have access to top-quality coaches.

For a start, national coach Kate Carpenter will oversee the technical matters, as well as coaching and training.

The sports school's B Division coach, Rawinia Robin Manihera, will handle the U-17 team, while C Division coach Noraida Abdul Malik will manage the U-14 team.

Both are full-time professional coaches who will remain on the sports school's payroll.

This is a break from past practice where coaches of previous Combined Schools squads were mostly teachers who coached part-time.

Said the sports school's principal, Moo Soon Chong: 'It took three years to build an understanding.

'But there is no rivalry among the various organisations over players.

'We want the best players housed together. This collaboration helps us achieve that.'

NS will hold selection trials on March 10.

Those chosen for the U-14 and U-17 squads will train at the sports school, which is offering free use of its facilities.