GUYANA national hockey team is preparing to field a team for the Indoor Pan American Cup set for March 19th in Alberta, Canada.
Long time national head coach Robert Fernandes believes that the indoor game gives the country the strongest opportunity of breaking into the International Hockey federation World Cup.
Coach Fernandes says, “Indoor represents Guyana best chance of qualifying for a world cup and the top two finishers will qualify for the world cup next year and we have consistently been right just outside the medals.”
According to Fernandes, while they have beaten Argentina in the past, they are conscious it’s a new team.
“A lot of our players are new and this will be the first time they will be competing at the Pan Am indoor and it’s been seven years since Guyana has sent their men’s team to the tournament.”
The coach says he optimistic but cautious, adding, “I’m confident in that we have quality players but it’s difficult to say how we will match up, considering the experience of the other teams and the conditions.”
The coach said that training has been less than ideal with the premier facility, the Cliff Anderson Sport Hall which is the closet in quality to an indoor venue under renovation.
According to Fernandes, they have had to utilise the St Stanislaus tarmac and GCC hockey pitch at Bourda.
Guyana which is ranked number 32nd in the world in indoor hockey will slug off their campaign against number 10 ranked Argentina then they lock horns before battling with number 8th ranked USA.
The Guyanese next face host Canada, who is number 19 in the world followed by their battle with neighbor and number 17 in the world Trinidad and Tobago.
The semi-finals and finals are scheduled for March 22.
Guyana last played the Indoor Pan Am Cup in 2017 in Georgetown, placing fourth after losing to Canada in the bronze medal match-up.
Guyana Medroy’s Scotland picked up goal keeper of the tournament.
The nation’s last hardware in the indoor game came in 2014 in Uruguay where they took a bronze.
The team will be coached by former national player and Level 2 FIH coach, Shane Samuels with support from Fernandes in a technical capacity.
The squad will feature UK overseas based players Jamarj Assanah and Andrew Stewart and USA based Aroydy Branford.
The shortlisted squad includes veteran Captain Robert France and keeper Medroy Scotland along with Paul D’Andrade, Raoul Whittaker, Jabari Lovell, Kareem McKenzie, Meshach Sargeant, Omar Hopkinson, Shakeem Fausette, Shaquon Favorite, Shomere Garnett, Simeon Moore, Tahrea Garnett and Warren Williams.
