Grenada’s first professional netballer heads to Europe

By Lincoln Depradine

St. George’s, January 7, 2011 – A female six-footer, who has won local and regional sporting awards, is about to become Grenada’s first ever professionally paid netballer.

Lottysha Cato, 23, is scheduled to leave Grenada January 11 to take up a contract to play super league netball for the Celtics Dragons in Wales.

Cato, popularly known as Timmy, plays goal shoot and goal attack. Her goal shooting accuracy – averaging well over 90 per cent – has earned her top awards in school and other domestic competitions, as well in regional tournaments.

A resident of La Mode, St. Patrick, Cato represented Grenada four times in regional Under-23 netball competitions. In last year’s championship, she captured two awards – the highest scorer and the most accurate. Cato was team vice-captain and Grenada emerged as overall winner.

Cato – Six feet, six inches tall – is very excited about turning a pro.

“I feel very good about the opportunity,’’ said Cato, who led Arley Gill Fun City to a championship title in local competition in 2010.

“It’s my first time travelling abroad to play with another team. I’ll go out there and do my best,’’ she promised.

Barbara Simpson has worked with Cato as coach of the National Under-23 team. She described her as a “disciplined player, a consistent trainer and a fit athlete who takes her game very seriously.’’

“We are happy for Timmy and wish her well,’’ Simpson said. “A lot of the younger players will be looking at this, feeling that they too can play professional netball. Her impact – the way in which she plays and carries herself – should be a stepping stone towards other Grenadians going out there in the super league tournaments.’’

Simpson also expressed hope that Cato’s “landmark, historic move’’ to play professionally in Europe will be an incentive leading to more support for local netball.

Cato is scheduled to return to Grenada at the end of May.

“Whatever I learn out there, I hope I can come back and share it with my people in Grenada,’’ she said.

Photos Courtesy: Keville Frederick