Netball: An English surprise for Singapore's national team

SINGAPORE: The national team received a pleasant surprise on Monday when Englishwoman Asha Tett, a former shooter for Singapore and England, was selected to represent the Republic at the Mission Foods Netball World Championship.

The tournament will be held at the Singapore Indoor Stadium from July 3 to 10, and the hosts have been drawn in Pool C, with Botswana, South Africa and Jamaica.

Singapore-born Tett will join a team that includes New Zealander Charlene Porima, who was born in the Republic, and China-born Chen Lili and Li Ling, who obtained her Singapore citizenship in 2003.
Chen, 21, will only be able to play if she is granted Singapore citizenship by July 3.

Revealing her team on Monday, coach Kate Carpenter admitted the roster will see the biggest number of foreign-born players in the world championship side.

But she stressed: "Foreign-born gives the idea that we are just grabbing foreigners and not investing in Singapore players. It's not that - some of these girls are born here and they have a life here."

Captain Jean Ng, who has earned 86 international caps, was circumspect and said: "Except for Lili, the others either grew up or live here. They understand the Singapore style of play and have been involved in netball the last five to six years."

University of Reading postgraduate Tett last donned Singapore colours at the 2005 Asian Championships, when the Republic clinched the title at the Toa Payoh Sports Hall. She also represented England at the World Youth Cup and Open European Championships.

Carpenter said the versatile Tett, who will arrive here on June 30, can play as wing attack, goal attack or goal shooter.

According to International Federation of Netball Associations (Ifna) rules, Tett will not be able to represent England for four years if she dons Singapore colours at the World Championship.

But the 25-year-old is happy with her decision.

"It was tough as I had to weigh up my future with England and Singapore. It's every netballer's dream to play in the world champs and I've been over here in England and never quite broken into the open squads. For Kate to give me this opportunity was something I couldn't say no to