The Guyana Hockey Board (GHB) on Saturday reduced to 23 the number of players to continue preparation with a view towards making the Guyana team to participate at next month’s Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games billed for November 15-23 in Vera Cruz, Mexico.
According to a release from the GHB, the women’s team competed at the previous CAC Games four years ago in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico ending in fifth place after being seeded eighth going into the tournament.
The team will however be going into this year’s CAC tournament ranked third following their international success over the past few years.
“A final placement of third or higher will qualify Guyana for a position in the Pan American Games of 2015 being held in Toronto, Canada,” the GHB release stated.
For this year’s CAC Games, Guyana is in Pool B along with defending champions Trinidad, the Dominican Republic and Bermuda. Pool A comprises hosts Mexico, Cuba, Barbados and Jamaica.
Guyana will open its bid for a medal on November 15th against the Dominican Republic. The two sides have never met in previous competition but the Dominican Republic made the semi-finals at the last CAC Games four years ago and is likely to give the Guyanese a tough challenge. Guyana is then scheduled to face the highly regarded Trinidadian side, fresh off their Glasgow Commonwealth Games appearance in July.
Guyana completes its pool round against Bermuda against whom they have one victory and one draw in the past four years.
The selectors are expected to name the final 16 in one week’s time. Those selected to the squad are:
Alysa Xavier (GK), Jonelle Webster (GK), Briawna Gordon (GK), Sarafina Phillips(GK), Ulrica Sutherland, Ashley DeGroot, Tiffany Solomon, Maria Munroe, Trisha Woodroffe, Aliyah Gordon, Marzana Fiedtkou, Janella Munroe, Leigh Sandison, Gabriella Xavier, Rebecca Xavier, Latacia Chung, Kerensa Fernandes, Chantelle Fernandes, Dacia Woodroffe, Samantha Fernandes, Shebiki Baptiste, Tekeisha Deleon and Princessa Wilkie.
