The Guyana Hockey Board (GHB) has named its women’s national team to compete in the 2024 PAHF (Pan American Hockey Federation) Challenge set for Hamilton, Bermuda from September 20 to 28.
The Challenge is a qualifier for the PAHF Cup which is slated for Uruguay in 2025 and is Guyana’s sole path to qualifying for a World Cup.
At the challenge, Guyana will be the lowest ranked competitor and according to a press statement from the GHB, “will attempt to overcome huge odds to secure the top spot in the challenge”.
The competition will see the participation of six nations with Mexico being the highest ranked team listed at #37 in the world, followed by Peru at #41, Brazil at #54, Jamaica at #67, Bermuda at #68 and Guyana bringing up the rear at #70.
The last occasion that Guyana competed in the PAHF Challenge was back in 2011 where they finished runners-up to Uruguay in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Only five players remain from the previous team in goalkeeper Alysa Xavier, Gabriella Xavier, Trisha Woodroffe, Samantha Fernandes and Chantelle Fernandes.
Meanwhile, National Coach Philip Fernandes in assessing the team, is of the opinion that it is a good mix of youth and experience. To this end, he said; “We lost a few mainstay players from our last national team like sweeper Ulrica Sutherland and midfielder Marzana Fiedtkou, but the young players are highly skilled and are now more mature than they were in our last outing. I expect our team to be very competitive and hopefully pull off a few upsets along the way. Our goal is to finish at the top despite the odds.”
The Guyanese women will come up against Peru in its opening fixture on September 21. Guyana’s second match is against pre-tournament favourites, Mexico on September 22. After a one day rest on September 23, Guyana will face Brazil and Paraguay on September 24 and 25 respectively.
The final pool match for Guyana will be against hosts Bermuda on September 27. Following the completion of the pool round, teams will then be seeded and participate in placement matches for fifth and sixth, the bronze medal match, and the final all of which are scheduled for Saturday, September 28.
The Guyana team reads:
Goalkeeper – Alysa Xavier
Defenders – Kezia Chinian, Kirsten Gomes, Makeda Harding, Tekeisha Deleon, Trisha Woodroffe
Midfielders – Clayza Bobb, Gabriella Xavier, Madison Fernandes, Sarah Klautky
Strikers – Abosaide Cadogan, Carolyn Deane, Chantelle Fernandes, Makaylah Poole, Princessa Wilkie, Samantha Fernandes
