Guyana concluded its four-match international hockey series against host nation Barbados with positive results, as the junior side recorded a win alongside a drawn affair for the senior outfit on Sunday at Wildey Park.
The junior programme romped to a 4-1 victory in their final outing to end the series with a record of one win and three draws. Meanwhile, the senior side played to a 1-1 stalemate to end with a record of three losses and a draw.
According to an official release from the Guyana Hockey Board, “National captain Shakeem Fausette was adjudged MVP [Most Valuable Player] of the junior series, while Guyana’s number 9, Frederico Cush, received the award for most goals in the series.”
National coach Robert Fernandes during a post series comment has this to offer, “I think the fact that eight of our juniors got the experience of playing the senior matches, although very taxing physically, took their game to a whole new level and it showed in the junior matches. The seniors had a tough start to the competition and were missing some key players in their earlier matches. In the first match we didn’t have Shakeem Fausette and Warren Williams only lasted a few minutes, both pulling up with cramps, so we sat them out for the second match also, and in the third match our best player Jamarj Assanah had to sit out with a leg injury.”
He added, “Sunday’s match was the first time we had all our playmakers on the field and the boys performed really well. The press was excellent and they had several quality circle entries and penalty corners. We
scored in the final quarter and got a penalty stroke which was saved by the Bajan goalkeeper. Barbados were awarded a penalty corner with seconds left on the clock, so when time expired they sent their entire team forward and were able to convert for the 1-1 draw.” According to Fernandes, “The tour helped to expose some gaps in our individual techniques, skill sets and tactical awareness which we need to address in the coming months. However, both teams have been on an upward trajectory since they got to Barbados, putting out improved performances with every match. Considering that our entire junior team and 14 members of our senior team made their international debuts on this trip, against a country ranked 45 places above us in the world rankings, I think we achieved what we went there to do, gain international experience, learn from it and get better for the junior Pan Am and CAC Games next year.”
Complete Series Results
Day 1
Juniors – drew 1-1
Seniors – lost 0-4
Day 2
Juniors – drew 1-1
Seniors – lost 0-1
Day 3
Juniors – drew 1-1
Seniors – lost 0-2
Day 4
Juniors – won 4-1
Seniors – drew 1-1
