“We’ve got to want it more” – Xavier urges junior national players

Gabriella Xavier and Makaylah Poole of the Guyana national female hockey team are hoping for success as they prepare to compete in the 2024 Pan American Hockey Federation (PAHF) Challenge competition, which is set to take place in Hamilton, Bermuda starting today, September 20.
The team’s first game is 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 play Brazil on Tuesday, the 24th and Paraguay on Wednesday, the 25th,. On Friday, the 27th, Guyana’s last pool encounter will take place against the hosts, Bermuda.

Speaking to media operatives on the sidelines of the uniform presentation by One Communications earlier this week, Xavier emphasised that the team are a better mixture of players, noting the challenges faced leading up to the tournament.
Xavier said, “So the last time we went to Bermuda, we took a very, what I should say, junior side. So, we had girls ranging between 15 to about 19. And just a few of the older girls, the senior players that played before. This time, we have a really good mixture. We’re bringing back some people like Chantal Finance. We have myself, Trisha Woody, Princess Wilkie, and so on. And we have it with the junior girls who’ve been playing very well over the past couple of years and so on. So, we have a better mix, in my opinion, for this tournament. We’ve been training very hard, preparing for this moment, because the goal is to get to the Pan Am Cup next year.
“People might think otherwise at some point in time, but because of the young girls, we’ve got the legs. We can exchange, and we can do the subs a lot quicker because of the fitness level of it. The hardest part right now is the fact that we’ve been playing on grass, not the artificial surface. That’s something that hampers us. So, we try to get in a little bit more of the practice sessions before we actually go into our first game. So, we can get familiar with the feel and so on. So, I think that might be the hardest part for us moving into this tournament.
“So, I think that’s why I could say firmly that we have a good mixture of girls right now. Because you need that kind of aggression. It only comes when you play with these teams over and over and over on a national forum. So, it’s getting that level of aggression and wanting it more. I think what will happen and we’ll have to guide the young girls to do is you have to want this more. Everybody is coming to represent whichever country they come to play for. And they want it. But we’ve got to want it more.”
Also speaking to media operatives was Poole as she shared on the overwhelming feeling brought on by representing Guyana on an international stage.
“Well, I’m very excited to go and show my talents and abilities. And I’ve been really looking forward, working hard, going through many training sessions and honing my skills just for this opportunity. And I’m excited to represent Guyana. It will be my first senior tour and I’m very excited. I can take that,” Poole said.
The full Guyana team read: 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.