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Nevers quits nat'l programme
Published: Monday | April 8, 2013 1 Comment
Jamaica's centre Khadijah Williams jumps and catches the ball during the final game of the three-Test Supreme Ventures Sunshine Series against England at the National Indoor Sports Centre on Saturday night. The Sunshine Girls lost 36-50. Ian Allen/Photographer
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Robert Bailey, Gleaner Writer
Veteran local coach Winston Nevers has quit his job as specialist shooting coach for Jamaica's netball programme because of financial reasons.
Nevers, who was appointed to the post two months ago, told The Gleaner that the payment being offered by the Jamaica Netball Association (JNA) is unsatisfactory as it costs him more money in transportation costs alone to attend training sessions.
"I don't understand the JNA's pay structure and so it doesn't suit me and so I decided that this was it," said Nevers, who is the coach of many-time Super League champions Jamalco.
"If they were giving me back my gas money, I would really continue," Nevers said.
"I was looking for somebody to say, Mr Nevers this is the national programme and we are going to give you this, but that never happened."
EXPENSIVE COMMITMENT
Nevers, who resides in May Pen, Clarendon, said he attended three training sessions with the national team, which cost him in excess of $12,000, but the pay he was receiving from the JNA was far below that.
"Gas money from May Pen to Kingston and back is $4,000 and so if they were giving me back my gas money, then I would definitely continue with the programme," Nevers said.
"They didn't give me anything substantial that would attract me to coach the national team," he said. "I live in May Pen and what they give the coach that lives in Kingston, they could not give me that same thing."
Nevers has guided Jamalco to 16 JNA Berger Paints titles, as well as 17 Jamaica National Building Society Senior League trophies.
In addition, Nevers also led Jamalco to 16 titles in the Clarendon Open League competition, as well as 17 Juici Patties Clarendon Senior League trophies. He has also led Scotiabank to a number of Business House Senior League titles.
Nevers stated that he was really upset with the fact that he had to walk away from the national programme.
"I am really disappointed because after so long away from the national programme, and getting this call (coaching appointment) was an honour for me."
Marva Bernard, president of the JNA, said she was really saddened by Nevers' departure, but added that her administration is struggling to finance a numbers of its programmes.
"It was a difficult decision I am sure he made," said Bernard. "But we are at the point where we are struggling to find resources to even send our team to Glasgow in Scotland.
"We have had to cut back on a lot of our programmes and it is just really difficult for us right now," Bernard said. "Meals for the players, we have to look at that and some of the coaches' sessions have had to be cut down and all we can do is to see how we can survive in this harsh economic climate."
Published: Monday | April 8, 2013 1 Comment
Jamaica's centre Khadijah Williams jumps and catches the ball during the final game of the three-Test Supreme Ventures Sunshine Series against England at the National Indoor Sports Centre on Saturday night. The Sunshine Girls lost 36-50. Ian Allen/Photographer
1 2 >
Robert Bailey, Gleaner Writer
Veteran local coach Winston Nevers has quit his job as specialist shooting coach for Jamaica's netball programme because of financial reasons.
Nevers, who was appointed to the post two months ago, told The Gleaner that the payment being offered by the Jamaica Netball Association (JNA) is unsatisfactory as it costs him more money in transportation costs alone to attend training sessions.
"I don't understand the JNA's pay structure and so it doesn't suit me and so I decided that this was it," said Nevers, who is the coach of many-time Super League champions Jamalco.
"If they were giving me back my gas money, I would really continue," Nevers said.
"I was looking for somebody to say, Mr Nevers this is the national programme and we are going to give you this, but that never happened."
EXPENSIVE COMMITMENT
Nevers, who resides in May Pen, Clarendon, said he attended three training sessions with the national team, which cost him in excess of $12,000, but the pay he was receiving from the JNA was far below that.
"Gas money from May Pen to Kingston and back is $4,000 and so if they were giving me back my gas money, then I would definitely continue with the programme," Nevers said.
"They didn't give me anything substantial that would attract me to coach the national team," he said. "I live in May Pen and what they give the coach that lives in Kingston, they could not give me that same thing."
Nevers has guided Jamalco to 16 JNA Berger Paints titles, as well as 17 Jamaica National Building Society Senior League trophies.
In addition, Nevers also led Jamalco to 16 titles in the Clarendon Open League competition, as well as 17 Juici Patties Clarendon Senior League trophies. He has also led Scotiabank to a number of Business House Senior League titles.
Nevers stated that he was really upset with the fact that he had to walk away from the national programme.
"I am really disappointed because after so long away from the national programme, and getting this call (coaching appointment) was an honour for me."
Marva Bernard, president of the JNA, said she was really saddened by Nevers' departure, but added that her administration is struggling to finance a numbers of its programmes.
"It was a difficult decision I am sure he made," said Bernard. "But we are at the point where we are struggling to find resources to even send our team to Glasgow in Scotland.
"We have had to cut back on a lot of our programmes and it is just really difficult for us right now," Bernard said. "Meals for the players, we have to look at that and some of the coaches' sessions have had to be cut down and all we can do is to see how we can survive in this harsh economic climate."