PAHF U21 Junior Challenge-Short prep time a major challenge for team – Coach Fernandes

The Guyana Boys’ Under-21 Hockey Team has been under intense preparation for the upcoming 2025 PAHF Junior Challenge, to be staged in Bridgetown, Barbados from 8th March 2025. Head Coach Robert Fernandes is confident that the team would qualify to participate in the Junior Pan American Games.

The single pool in the Boys competition features Brazil, Guyana, Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago, Guatemala, and Venezuela.
The Guyanese boys are slated to face Guatemala in their opening match, before they face Trinidad & Tobago, Venezuela, and Brazil. They complete the pool round against Barbados.
Guyana Times Sport was able to get an exclusive interview with Head Coach Robert Fernandes at a training session, and he indicated that his team’s chances are good.
He disclosed that, over the next few weeks, the focus would be on unifying the team to play at a higher level.
Fernandes said, “Well, this tournament is actually a qualifying tournament for the Junior Pan Ams. So, the top five teams, actually the top six teams, are there at this tournament. And I think our chances are very good against the six teams that will be at the tournament.
“We had our first practice match against a senior selection on Sunday; and despite our shortcomings, we were able to be very confident. So, I think over the next few weeks, as we galvanize the team, we will be able to compete at a much higher level,” he explained.
With the team given only eight weeks for preparation, as Fernandes expounded, cohesiveness within the team is the biggest challenge.
“I think our biggest challenge is the short time frame. Normally, when we prepare for these tournaments, we prepare one year in advance, and so on.
This time around, we have eight weeks to try and get the boys ready as a team,” he detailed.
“I think the individuals…are probably as good, or even better than, some of our previous underground players; but the challenge right now is just getting them to play together as one, rather than a collection of the three boys.” Fernandes said.
Final selection for squads is expected to be completed by Sunday, 9th February. The team will continue to train at the GCC ground, Bourda, during the week, and at the Providence Stadium on weekends. (Omar McKenzie)