National male netball goal shooter recognized

St. Vincent and the Grenadines national goal shooter, Dorian Layne was recently recognized for his exploits for the Net-Rippers Warriors Club of Jamaica in that country’s 2023 national male netball tournament.

Layne received the Player of the 2023 Quad Series Award, Runner-up Shooter of the Year 2023, International Player of the Year 2023, along with a certificate of recognition by the Net-Rippers Warriors Club for his outstanding performance as a goal-shooter during the 2023 campaign. This recognition was conferred at the Net Rippers award ceremony held in Gordon Town, St Andrews, Jamaica on March 31, 2024.

Speaking to SEARCHLIGHT on his performances and recognition, Layne said, “I think that my skills and all that I’ve learnt here in St Vincent and the Grenadines helped me to achieve these awards. My hunger to win, my attitude to do everything legal within the rules of the game and consistency is what sets me apart from everyone else”.

Layne said that he grew up loving the sport from “a young age, probably eight or nine years old just by going to games and watching my mom play. Growing up, my friend and I used to nail bicycle rims on trees and street light poles and shoot the ball and although we used to get teased for it, that never stopped us from playing. We just wanted to play netball,” he shared.

“ Now, fast forward years later, I am now travelling to play netball regionally and internationally, and that is why every opportunity and every award I win I am super grateful because of where I came from.”

Layne said he has been playing netball officially for eight years, but before that there were never any male teams in St Vincent and the Grenadines to join. He represented St. Vincent and the Grenadines in a number of regional tournaments before securing the opportunity to travel to play for overseas clubs, joining the world male netball club in Florida, and Net Rippers Warriors Club in Jamaica in 2023, and has been playing for them ever since.

“Travelling overseas for tournaments and by extension, winning awards, not only gives me recognition and exposure but also my country. It also sends a message that despite the stigma attached to male netball, you just have to be positive because there is much to learn for your own self growth and development,” Layne noted.

“My advice to any male or female player is to set a goal and work towards it no matter what negativity or stumbling block there is, stay focussed.”