National U-19 boys impress in two outings

FIVE weeks together and the National Under-19 male squad have already made a name for themselves on the local indoor circuit. The interesting thing, though, is that they have not been training for indoor play.

They finished as the runners-up in the elite first division competition at the just concluded GT&T Indoor competition. They lost twice to the eventual winners, Hikers.
Head coach of the team, Robert Fernandes was both surprised and pleased with their performance but said there is still work to be done. The squad was recently put together after an Olympic Grant was given to the Guyana Hockey Board so they can prepare for the next Olympic Cycle.
Their focus for the immediate future however is on the Pan Am Juniors in 2016, an outdoor tournament.
Fernandes said the Indoor competition was an opportunity for the juniors to play at a high intensity and raise their level for the outdoor game.
‘I thought the work rate of the boys really improved throughout the entire tournament and in outdoor you have to have a high work rate.’
He did identify one flaw in their play though.
‘I think there was a little too much individual play, where there are quite a few talented players who try to do a little bit too much on their own instead of looking for their team mates and I think it’s something they will grow out of the more they play together as a unit.’
Fernandes, who also coaches and plays his hockey with the Saints and Hikers teams, believes the results will start to show faster, the more they play as a team.
‘They’re good as individuals; they’re not playing together as a team itself because they haven’t been together long as yet.’
Last month the team had their first competition at the Banks 11-a-side outdoor tourney after some two weeks together. They didn’t finish in the top bracket, but gave a fairly good account of themselves.
Next month they make their first overseas tour to neighbouring Trinidad & Tobago, to play against their National U-19 squad.
Games will be played on an artificial surface – the same that is used in all international competitions.
‘It’s the first chance they will get to play on an artificial turf and this will be a gauge to see where Guyana is on the International scene,’ noted Fernandes.
Guyana’s national juniors have been drawn from four teams – GCC, Hikers, Old Fort and Kingston.

(By Leeron Brumell)