Campbell rejects netball top coach job

The second of Jamaica's top netball coaches, Sylvester Campbell, says he has no interest in becoming the next head coach of Jamaica's Sunshine Girls, but he is open to working with the team in a lesser role.

Campbell's comments come two weeks after popular Jamalco coach Winston Nevers said he was no interested in the job.

The Sunshine Girls have been without a head coach since November after the resignation Minneth Reynolds, following the team's 2-1 away series win over rivals England.

The outspoken Campbell is one of the game's top umpires and is seen by many as one of the leading candidates for the post.

TIME CONSTRAINING

However, the man who has been coaching in the local leagues for more than 20-years said the job will be very time constraining and therefore he would prefer to take up a lesser role with the team.

"I am not going to put my hat into the ring, but if I am asked help in anyway shape or form to develop this team, then I will make myself available," said Campbell.

"The Sunshine Girls have specialist coaches for different areas because you could ask to do goal defence, something on centre pass and if I am asked to do something in one of these areas, then I will make myself available," said Campbell.

In the past, Netball Jamaica had faced criticism for overlooking the vastly experience Campbell and Nevers, but the chairman of the Jamaica Umpire Training and Certification Committee, said the most competent and qualified person should be awarded the job.

"I have the umpiring responsibility already and it is something that I want to do, and so I am going to stay with that," said Campbell, an umpire for more than 30 years, a decade of which was spent on the international scene.

"I don't know about this male thing that people are always talking about because I think that the person that is most qualified that should get the job," he said.

The 48-year-old Campbell, who coaches Tivoli Gardens in the local leagues, created history at the 2006 Commonwealth Games by being the first male to officiate in the final, which featured hosts Australia and New Zealand.

Campbell, along with countryman Dalton Hinds, created history a year later by becoming the first male pair to officiate in a World Netball Championship final. They were the officials in the 2007 final which was also between hosts New Zealand and Australia.