THE country’s National Women’s Hockey team, despite obvious disadvantages, showed their resolved and grit to make adjustments on the artificial surface in Pembroke Bermuda to stay undefeated heading into their fourth clash today in the Pan American Hockey Federation Challenge Series.
They will battle Bermuda which is ranked two places above them in the world at 68 in what is expected to be a scorcher and a must win for Guyana.
On Sunday, Guyana clashed with Paraguay and came out with a draw.

Starring for the 592 girls was their goal keeper, Alysa Xavier, who stood up to scrutiny to have a clean sheet and keep Guyana in the hunt for a top 2 finish.
Guyana going into the competition without any practice on a proper artificial surface was up against it but found an unlikely hero in 14-year-old Makaylah Poole who made her senior debut for Guyana as they downed world number 54 Brazil 1-nil in their opener.
Following the Bermuda game, Guyana will play world number 37 and pre-tournament favourites Mexico on Friday.

Head coach, Phillip Fernandes, told Guyana Chronicle that the ladies’ adjustment to the speed of the artificial surface affected their ability to capture another win against Paraguay.
“The truth of the matter is that we in Guyana are robbed too much by not having an artificial pitch on which to train… The girls had to readjust their reception skills to balls coming onto their sticks at a much faster pace than it does on grass.”
He said this has caused them vital seconds which delay execution of passes at the pace of the game, adding “The passes run away from their target if it is not precisely into a stick. Anyone watching the matches can see how many simple passes, especially when we launched threatening counterattack, missed their target.”

He noted the fact that they seldom played international was a huge humbug to the team’s growth.
“Even though some of these girls have been playing for years, if you count the actual competitive matches, it probably won’t make up two years of solid hockey. The inexperience leads to them often being slightly out of position rather than knowing by experience where to be and causes them to take longer than they should to make decisions when in possession.”

Guyana is seeking to qualify for the Pan American Hockey Federation (PAHF) Cup scheduled for Uruguay in 2025 and the hockey World Cup next year.
Guyana last competed in the PAHF Challenge back in 2011, where they finished runners-up to Uruguay in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The team is sponsored by One Communication, the challenge series runs until September 28.