Youth netballer tapped for regional development camp

Rising netball star Naija Ferdinand has been handed a golden opportunity to develop on and off the court by taking part in a youth development camp this week in Trinidad & Tobago. 

Ferdinand and basketball player Mezan Lewis were selected by the Saint Lucia Olympic Committee to represent the country at this year’s Trinidad & Tobago Olympic Committee Youth Camp. This is the first time the camp has welcomed participants from outside Trinidad & Tobago.

Ferdinand, who is from Micoud, led the national Under-16 team at the Jean Pierre Caribbean Youth Netball Tournament, where she also secured the team’s MVP and President’s Awards. 

Her versatility across multiple positions has been on show all summer. She led Saint Lucia as they won Windward Islands School Games netball for the first time since 2019. She also helped the senior national team take a historic bronze medal at the Central American & Caribbean Games. 

Ferdinand and Lewis travelled to Trinidad & Tobago with national netball coach Jo-Ann Anderson, who acted as their chaperone.

The Olympic Youth Camp is one of the TTOC’s main programmes. Started 23 years ago, it helps young people learn about the Olympic values of excellence, respect and friendship, and supports their growth both in sports and in life.

The camp places equal emphasis on sport, leadership, education and personal growth, providing participants with a meaningful Olympic-inspired experience at a formative stage of their lives.

Netball is not a medal sport at the Summer Olympics, but the IOC recognises it. The camp is meant to be inclusive and covers several sports, not just one.

Meanwhile, the Saint Lucia senior national squad begins training this weekend, ahead of the 2027 Netball World Cup Americas Qualifiers to be held in Barbados from October 19 to 26.  

(TF)