Norton pledges ‘full support’ for Hockey following CAC qualifying success

By Michelangelo Jacobus
Still basking in the glow of winning Gold and Silver at the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games Qualifiers in Jamaica just last Sunday, the Men and Women’s National Hockey teams met with Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr George Norton on Thursday.

They (both teams) have qualified for the CAC Games in Barranquilla, Colombia next year slated for July 19-August 3.
They came in for high praise from the Minister who is now responsible for sport; he congratulated them on their success at the qualifiers but warned of complacency.
He warned, “While it brings you closer to manifesting the true champions that you really are, it is now that the hard work begins.”
Following the Guyana Hockey Board’s (GHB) success this year in hosting the Indoor Pan American Championships (IPAC) for the first time coupled with their qualification for the CAC Games, Minister Norton pledged his “full support” and encouraged them (GHB) to ask for anything that is needed.
Meanwhile President of the GHB, Philip Fernandes thanked the Minister and the Director of Sport, Christopher Jones for affording the athletes the opportunity to be center stage and enjoying their success.

Speaking exclusively to Guyana Times Sport Fernandes noted that the teams will be working hard in the eight months leading up to the CAC Games. He explained that an overseas based coach has reached out to GHB with the intention of working with the male and female teams; he maintained that if that coach does come to Guyana, the local coaches will work along with the newcomer as they seek to further develop and strengthen the Guyanese teams.
Fernandes also bemoaned the lack of an outdoor artificial turf as he pointed out that at various tournaments overseas, the Guyanese players usually struggle in their first few games as they get accustomed to the playing surfaces.
This was vindicated by the Guyanese players who had a chance to train for the very first time last month on the same playing surface that they competed in the Indoor Pan-American Championships where the difference showed in performance.
The CAC Games will witness 37 countries from Central America, the Caribbean and South America participating.