Jamaica's Under-16 goal shooter, Marvadeen Anderson, holds the trophy following the team's success at the Jean Pierre Caribbean Under-16 Netball Championships last year. - Ricardo Makyn

Defending champions Jamaicawill open their defence of the Jean Pierre Caribbean Under-16 Netball Championships tomorrow, when they oppose Antigua and Barbuda at the Leila Robinson Courts starting at 6 p.m.

In the day's other games, Trinidad and Tobago oppose Dominica at 6:15 p.m., Cayman Islands tackle Guyana at 6:45 p.m., and former champions Barbados face St Lucia at 7:15 p.m.

The Jamaicans, seeking their third consecutive hold on the title, have won the competition on seven occasions and according to their coach Joan Cargil, her team is ready to make the nation proud.

"We are very confident that we can retain our title, especially playing at home, because we know that we will have our Jamaican supporters behind us and this will help to motivate the team a lot," she said.

The coach believed the team's preparation has been going according to plan and the players are ready and raring to go.

"We have been training very hard because they have been involved in a number of practice games against the national Under-21 team, but we are going to take this competition one game at a time," she said.

winning players

Jamaica defeated Barbados to win last year's tournament, which was staged in Antigua and Barbuda, and have retained six players from last year's team. Among them are 15-year-old, 6ft 9 inch goal shooter Marvadeen Anderson, Deneen Taylor, Shereesha Richards, Ashley Henry, Shanique Miller and Shanice Lee.

Anderson, who was the top goal shooter at the last tournament, was quite confident Jamaica will retain their title.

"I definitely think that we are going to win this year's Caribbean Under-16 competition because we have been putting a lot of hard work in training and the girls are ready to go," she said.

"I also believe that we have a much stronger team, in comparison to last year, and I have improved my shooting a lot, compared to last year," said Anderson.

Meanwhile, Antigua and Barbuda, who finished eighth at last year's tournament with two points, have retain four members of that squad. They are Kisthona Aubrey, Feronora Barthley, Kristel, King and Tenisha Williams.

Joan Cargill