Hyacinth Academy to boost netball in Central Province
 

by Bernard Perera

A netball academy is to be set up in Kandy on August 7 named as Hyacinth Netball Academy. The Academy will be housed at campus premises, said Hyacinth Wijesinghe the organiser of the academy at a press briefing held at Sugathadasa Sports Hotel recently.

Hyacinth a former national player, skipper and a coach who has completed the highest level for coaches the level III is back in Sri Lanka after coaching stint in Singapore is a highly qualified coach at present in Sri Lanka. A former student of Mahamaya Girls School, Kandy has come up with this idea to develop netball in Central Province.

She said I want to part my knowledge to young netballers specially from the Central Province. None of the netballers have reached the national level since my departure. This I feel is not a healthy sign for the sport in the Central Province as such I decided to organise this Academy in the province to produce more netballers. My intention is not purely based on my school Mahamaya but for the whole Central Province she said.

In this regard I consulted Principals of many schools and their willingness prompted me to consult the Education Ministry for permission to continue my project for the benefit of all schools. Education Ministry has shown the green light and assured all assistance for the conduct of the academy. This she said is a strength that the Education Ministry has given me.

The Academy will absorb students over eight years for training which will be conducted on weekends at Sports Complex of the Peradeniya university. She said she will receive the support from Sweeni de Alwis and Sudharma Amerasinghe who are qualified coaches.

Speaking further Hyacinth noted that the most needed sponsorship has come from Paracetol. Gamini Hewamallika who hails from Kandy and markets the local product Paracetol had no hesitation when requested for the sponsorship.

Paracetol will support the project by providing clothing and all other requirements for the students of the Academy. She said that she is thankful to makers of Paracetol. She said all this support from Education Ministry and sponsors the Academy is sure to produce top class netballers for the future which is her ambition.

Hyacinth said that already she has conducted workshops for coaches and young netballers from outstation schools. For this purpose conducted workshops in Giriulla, Mahawa, Matale and Embilipitiya where a large number of enthusiasts participated. She hopes to conduct more workshops in rural areas free of charge for the sake of developing the sport in these areas with assistance from Education Ministry.

Answering a question she said that she has not received any invitation or any kind of assistance from the Ministry of Sports up to now. If an invitation is extended for her services for the sport she said that she is willing to part all her knowledge to coaches and the national team to produce a winning team at international level.

She said the governing body for the Asian region has appointed her as the Development Officer for the region, which is the first appointment for Sri Lankan at this level. President of the Asian Netball Federation Ivy Sim based in Singapore has shown a personal interest on her achievements which prompted her to nominate Hyacinth for the above post.

Preethi Kanakaratnam who represented the sponsors said that it was a pleasure to be associated with a person who has reached great heights on her sporting life. This he said is the first occasion a personality of this nature has taken steps to promote the sport on a vision of her own.

This is a good sign for the sport, that was the reason Paracetol came forward to sponsor the Academy which will be of immense service. He promise further assistance in the future too.