As the countdown begins to two major international sporting tournaments, Barbados’ senior national netball captain Damisha Croney has framed July’s 2024 Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games in the Dominican Republic as an irreplaceable testing ground for her squad, with a pivotal World Cup qualifying round looming just months later.
Scheduled to run from July 24 to 28 in the Dominican capital, this year’s CAC Games arrive a mere three months before Barbados plays host to the Americas Netball Regional Qualifiers for the 2027 Netball World Cup. That tight timeline has elevated the regional competition from a standalone regional event to a critical preparation milestone for the national side, Croney explained during an official squad announcement event Sunday at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre, where rosters for both the CAC Games and upcoming Commonwealth Games were unveiled to the public.
The captain made clear that the team has set ambitious targets for the Dominican Republic tournament: not only is the squad aiming to secure a podium finish, but it is also focused on climbing the global rankings to reverse a current standing that the group has openly described as unsatisfactory. “We’re not content with where we sit right now internationally,” Croney noted, framing the CAC Games as a key developmental step toward reclaiming a top spot in global netball.
A major strength of this year’s selected CAC Games roster, Croney emphasized, is its intentional balance of veteran leadership and emerging young talent. The squad blends seasoned veterans like Shonette Azore Bruce, who has spent more than a decade competing at the international level and brings a deep well of tactical and on-court knowledge, with exciting new prospects who have recently graduated from Barbados’ successful Under-21 program. Among those rising young stars are Trinity Gibson, Azaria Alleyne, and Kijana Myisha Johnson, who are expected to bring fresh energy and competitive edge to the side. “With that mix of youth and experience, we’re confident we can deliver strong results,” Croney said.
Croney also pointed to a unique competitive advantage heading into the tournament: several top-ranked regional rivals, including Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, have opted to split their senior player pools between the concurrent CAC Games and 2024 Commonwealth Games, stretching their resources thin across two major events. That split, she argued, creates a valuable opening for Barbados to secure high-profile wins and climb the global rankings, with the long-term goal of breaking back into the sport’s global top 12.
Climbing the rankings is no easy feat, Croney acknowledged: “It’s far easier to drop places than it is to gain them. But the current setup gives us a far better chance to put on a strong showing, compete for a medal, and make up ground. We’re just grateful to get this amount of high-level match play ahead of the qualifiers.”
For the team, the CAC Games also serve a critical preparatory purpose beyond rankings and medals: it gives the mixed roster time to build on-court chemistry and test combinations in competitive match conditions, a necessity just months out from the home qualifying tournament in October. “Getting this match work is non-negotiable for us as we build toward the qualifiers,” Croney added. “This is the perfect stepping stone to get us ready to compete at home later this year.”
The full 12-player roster named to represent Barbados at the 2024 CAC Games is: Trinity Gibson, Salisha Auguste, Brianna Holder, Jada Smith, Akeena Stoute, Faye Agard, Damisha Croney, Stephian Shepherd, Azaria Alleyne, Trishan Deane, Kijana Johnson, and Shonette Azore-Bruce.