Panthers prepared to perform
PANTHERS return to life in the South League this weekend as a new bunch of under-16s step out on their home court.
Coach Heidi Rosamund does not know quite what to expect from Saturday’s season opener against CD Phoenix at Beau Sejour, nor their other 15 matches lined up in U16 Division Two between now and April.
But she is proud of the Panthers U16s for making the cut this summer and said: ‘The fact that Guernsey have qualified at the regionals is a success in itself.’
After two years of disruption from Covid, the coach has welcomed a promising bunch of players, some of whom are in the age group below.
‘We have got a nice, healthy mix of U15s and U16s,’ she said.
‘We have 19 with us training. It’s not to say if you are an U15 you will not get to be selected – it’s an open playing field.
‘We are going with 12 for home games and taking 10 for away games.’
Panthers had U16 and senior representation in the league before the pandemic, but they have since been largely confined to domestic play.
Therefore, aside from knowing whether each club is participation or performance-based, Rosamund is in the dark when it comes to estimating the opposition.
‘We are just going to take it as it comes – prepare the girls as best we can and just go out and enjoy it, really,’ she said.
‘[We want to] enjoy the experience and introduce those girls to some performance netball.’
She added of their opening opponents: ‘From what I know and my experience coaching in the regional leagues, CD Phoenix are a decent club.
‘They are probably a club that are more towards the performance side. I do not think any team we come up against in the league is going to be a walkover.’
Saturday’s match starts at 2pm.
