National senior hockey coach Philip Fernandes departed Guyana yesterday to attend the International Hockey Federation (FIH) World Cup Coaching Course which opened in New Delhi, India today.

Twenty eight of the world’s leading coaches were invited to attend the high-level coaching course which will take place during the Women’s World Cup in the Indian capital.

Fernandes who is also President of the Guyana Hockey Board said that he was recommended by FIH master coach Rodolfo Mendoza of Argentina.

Fernandes who is self-sponsored said, “I had participated in courses in the past which were run by Mendoza and so he was familiar with my level.”

According to the local hockey official he had also delivered three level one courses in the Caribbean, two in Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago in 2005 and one in Jamaica last year.

The FIH course will run from March 5-11and according to information provided by the FIH, the top master coaches and world renowned experts will conduct the course, these include head coaches of several of the top hockey playing nations.
Fernandes will be better equipped to coach the national women’s squad currently in training for the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games in Puerto Rico in July.

A squad of 30 players was shortlisted by the Guyana Hockey Board a few months ago to prepare for the top regional tournament.

Fernandes has been a coach of top first division club Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) since 1997 leading them to a silver medal at the Pan American Club championship in 2001 in Jamaica.

He has been the ladies national coach since 2005.