16-member women’s hockey team named for PAHF Challenge
The Guyana women’s hockey team are set to compete in the 2024 Pan American Hockey Federation (PAHF) Challenge in Hamilton, Bermuda, a missive from the Guyana Hockey Board (GHB) indicated on Monday.
This tournament will serve as Guyana’s only route to the World Cup and serves as a qualifier for the 2025 PAHF Cup in Uruguay.
The full 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, Makayla Poole, Princessa Wilkie, and Samantha Fernandes.
As the Challenge’s lowest-ranked participant, Guyana will have to overcome overwhelming odds to take first place. Mexico are the highest-ranked team among the six teams in competition, with a global ranking of #37. Peru are rated #41, Brazil are ranked #54, Jamaica are ranked #67, Bermuda are ranked #68, and Guyana are ranked #70.
When Guyana last participated in the PAHF Challenge in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 2011, they came in second to Uruguay.
Back row: Coach Philip Fernandes, Princessa Wilkie, Sarah Klautky, Abosaide Cadogan, Tekeisha Deleon, Carolyn Deane, Trisha Woodroffe, Makeda Harding, and Kirsten Gomes. Front Row: Kezia Chinian, Makaylah Poole, goalkeeper Alysa Xavier, Gabriella Xavier, and Clayza Bobb
Goalkeeper Alysa Xavier, Gabriella Xavier, Trisha Woodroffe, Samantha Fernandes, and Chantelle Fernandes are the only five members of the former squad still competing.
According to National Coach Philip Fernandes, the team are a good mix of youth and experience.
Fernandes 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. Our goal is to finish at the top despite the odds.”
In their first game on Saturday, September 21, the squad plays against Peru, a team that are rapidly growing. On Sunday, September 22, Guyana will play its second game against Mexico, the pre-tournament favourites. Following a day off on the 23rd, Guyana plays Paraguay on Wednesday, the 25th, and Brazil on Tuesday, the 24th. On Friday the 27th, Guyana’s last pool encounter will take place against the hosts, Bermuda. Teams are seeded and play in placement matches for fifth and sixth place, the bronze medal match, and the final on Saturday, September 28, following the completion of the pool stage.
