The Guyana Under-21 boys’ hockey team has been officially chosen to compete in the 2025 Pan American Hockey Federation (PAHF) Junior Challenge. The tournament is set to take place in Bridgetown, Barbados, from March 8-16.
The 16-man squad, selected under the guidance of Head Coach Robert Fernandes, boasts a strong mix of experienced players and promising young talents. Assistant Coaches Shane Samuels, John Abrahams, and Tivesard Garnett will support Fernandes in preparing the team for the upcoming international challenge.
The team features a solid foundation, with nine players returning from the 2023 squad that secured a commendable fifth-place finish at the Junior Pan American Championships. Among the most notable returnees are midfield maestro Shaquon Favorite, central defender Jabari Lovell, and striker Simeon Moore.
In addition to the returning players, nearly all of the newcomers have been part of the national junior training squad over the past two years.
However, two fresh faces will make their international debut: 16-year-old striker Shane Sargeant and the youngest member of the team, 15-year-old Grant Fernandes.
Much of this talent has been nurtured through Guyana’s schools hockey programme, which has been facilitated by the Icool Junior Championships. The programme has played a crucial role in player development, with six of the selected athletes emerging from the North Ruimveldt Multilateral program and five from the Saint Stanislaus program.
Head Coach Fernandes remains cautiously optimistic about the team’s chances of medaling at the tournament. He acknowledged that previous exposure to top-tier Pan American competition, against powerhouses like Argentina and the USA, demanded a strong defensive strategy and a counterattacking approach. However, he believes this competition presents a legitimate opportunity for Guyana to contend for a top spot. As such, he has emphasized the need for the players to adopt a more aggressive, attack-minded style with a greater focus on possession and offensive buildups.
Guyana will begin its campaign on March 8 against Guatemala, mirroring the girls’ team’s opening match. The team will then face Trinidad & Tobago, Venezuela, Brazil, and hosts Barbados. Their primary objective is to secure a top-two finish, which would grant them qualification for the 2025 Junior Pan American Games in Paraguay this August.
Squad:
Goalkeeper:
– Darious Alleyne
Defenders:
– Donnel Alleyne
– Jabari Lovell
– Nkosi Saul
– Quinn Tobin
– Daniel Woolford
Midfielders:
– Shaquon Favorite
– Navid Hussain
– Yonnick Norton
– Simeon Moore
Strikers:
– Grant Fernandes
– Baraka Garnett
– Anthony Harry
– Robert Marcus
– Shane Sargeant
– Vladimir Woodroffe
Standby Player:
– Clay Bobb
