The Hikers Hockey Club’s annual Junior Hockey Summer programme is scheduled to commence on Monday August 15th at the St. Stanislaus College Forum. The programme will cater to children from the ages of 6 to 16 years old, and will be conducted daily at the school’s forum from 9:00AM to 1:00PM.
Chantelle FernandesJamarj Assanah and Travon Younge
England-based, national women’s team captain Chantelle Fernandes will co-ordinate the two week programme, with some assistance from Cuban-based former national player Latoya Fordyce and Hikers junior coaches Jamarj Assanah, Travon Younge, Renee James and Macaela Harding.
This will be the fourth year that Hikers have conducted this summer holiday camp for beginners, and several of the graduates of previous camps have already begun to break into the National Junior and Senior squads.
The classes are free of charge and all interested persons are invited to attend.
Despite a 2-0 loss to top seed and pre-tournament favourites, Uruguay, the Guyana Women’s Hockey Team has achieved its primary objective of making the final of the PAHF Challenge. The Challenge which is being played in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, begun on July 31st and will be completed when the finals are played on Sunday August 7th 2011. The top two teams in the PAHF Challenge, Guyana and Uruguay, who clash in the final tomorrow (August 7), both earn spots in the World Cup Qualifier for the Americas, the PAHF Cup, to be held in Argentina in 2013.
Leigh Sandison joins Ulrica Sutherland (partly hidden) to disposses a Uruguayan striker
Going into their final pool match of the tournament against the unbeaten Uruguayans, Guyana needed to concede as few goals as possible against them to have the best chance for qualification. The Guyanese had drawn their match against Brazil 1-1 earlier in the week and now had to do their best on the final day to finish with a better goal average than the hosts to qualify for the final. The match however proved to be a difficult one with the Guyanese going down by one goal as early as the 4th minute when a powerful penalty corner strike from Uruguayan full back, Karina Bisignano, deflected off the stick of Captain Chantelle Fernandes and into the Guyanese net. Guyana played strong defence but struggled to mount any meaningful attacks as the Uruguayans controlled the possession and applied continuous pressure. In the 22nd minute, Uruguayan substitute, Florencia Norbis produced a skilful deflection on a pass across the scoring circle that proved too difficult for Alysa Xavier who had been having a fine game in goal for the Guyanese.
Team Guyana's sweeper Ulrica Sutherland
With the Guyanese down 0-2 at the half, their chances appeared to be slipping away as there seemed to be no way around the organised and skilful Uruguayans. Guyana would however produce a greatly improved second with brave efforts from many of their players including Leigh Sandison, Ulrica Sutherland and Xavier in goal. Uruguay would fail to produce any more goals for the remainder of the match and while Guyana managed to enjoy greater possession of the ball, never seemed to threaten the outcome. The game finished at 2-0 in favour of Uruguay.
With Brazil now needing the beat Paraguay by 5 goals in the final match of the day, the Guyanese girls remained tense as their fate was now in Paraguay’s hands. Brazil would muster a gutsy 4-1 victory but it would not be enough to deny the Guyanese their place in the final. Uruguay topped the pool round with 12 points, Guyana and Brazil managed 7 points each but Guyana placed second with a better goal average. Paraguay finished fourth in the pool with 3 points and Bermuda remained on zero at the end of the pool round. Guyana now faces Uruguay again in the finals at 14:30hrs while Paraguay will challenge Brazil for third place at 12:00hrs tomorrow, Sunday 7th.
Goalkeeper: Alysa is one of the most gifted players on the team and is a player with great potential. Having had success at several sport disciplines, and possessing the ability to play with equal effectiveness in or out of the goal, the team will benefit greatly in having her between the bars where she chose to make her career.
Amanda Garnett
Striker: Amanda is the life of the team. She is a natural ballplayer who works hard every time out. Amanda possesses good speed and control which makes her one of the team’s top strikers.
Ashley DeGroot
Striker: Ashley is a relative newcomer who is making her debut in Rio. What she lacks in experience, Ashley makes up for with an astute game sense of where her teammates are. A player with lots of potential, Ashley is likely to develop into one of the best passers in the game. Her role in the team however currently remains creating goal scoring opportunities on the front line.
Avonda James
Striker: Avonda is one of the fastest and most dedicated players on the team. Her pace gives her the unique opportunity of beating her marker to the vital scoring spot to score or set up a teammate. She works hard on defence also, a rare quality in a striker.
Chantelle Fernandes
Striker: Chantelle has been made captain of the team this year as she remains one of the more influential players who enjoys a good rapport with the entire team. She is one of the more exposed players having played for a few years abroad and with her good stick work, it shows in her game. While Chantelle was the central midfield figure on the team last year, she has been moved into the forward line in the hope of producing more goals which has been one of the team’s shortcomings in the past.
Dominique DeGroot
Striker: Dominique is a busy player who sticks to her assigned task. She is a graduate from the junior indoor ranks who is making a name and permanent place for herself on the senior side. She is strong on the ball and can also play some minutes in the midfield.
Gabriella Xavier
Midfield: Gabriella has developed into a strong attacking force with her ability to control the ball at pace. She is a tireless worker and will contribute at both ends of the pitch. Gabriella also plays on the forward line in addition to her critical attacking midfield position.
Jonelle Webster
Goalkeeper: Coming from a football background, Jonelle is a natural athlete with good leg coordination. She is relatively new to the game but is a fast learner who has finally managed to break into the team in this, her debut tournament.
Kerensa Fernandes
Striker: Kerensa has been the country’s most prolific scorer over the past few years both internationally and in the local league. Possessing a natural swing with great timing, she is also the penalty corner striker of the team. A lot of the team’s offense will ride on her shoulders.
Leigh Sandison
Center Midfield: Easily the most experienced player in the side, Leigh has played all of her hockey overseas. She is clearly one of the strongest players and, apart from her contribution with the ball, Leigh will play a critical role in directing the team from her central area.
Maria Munroe
Right midfield: With the heart of a warrior, much is expected of Maria Munroe in the competition. She is a genuine leader who is strong on the ball and is sure to play a major role in the team’s attack. Maria missed the 2010 competition to have her baby girl but is back and already in good physical condition to resume her role in midfield.
Marisha Rodrigues
Left midfield: Although Marisha has always been one of the more talented ballplayers on the side, this could possibly be one of her strongest tournaments as she has made a significant effort to improve her match fitness. An intelligent player who is quick to improvise, she will play a vital midfield role during the competition.
Marzana Fiedtkou
Left Back: Despite being the youngest player on the side, Marzana is already a permanent starter and has established herself as one of the team’s most reliable players. A good defender with strong possession skills Marzana is one of the more technically correct players in the side, having learned the game from a young age and has a bright future ahead.
Talia Fiedtkou
Full Back: Having made a good name for herself on the indoor version of the game, Talia has improved her game and finally made the breakthrough into the national side. She is a strong defender who plays a tough brand of hockey. Talia possesses a powerful push and hit which enables her to generate a counterattack from difficult situations.
Tiffany Solomon
Full back: Tiffany brings maturity and strength to the central defence. She is a powerful and intelligent player who rises to the occasion on the international stage. Tiffany will be assigned the tough marking responsibilities in the central defence area.
Trisha Woodroffe
Right back: Although being used on the right side, Trisha Woodroffe is a solid defender who possesses good reverse skills. A smooth striker of the ball with good possession skills she is a well balanced player who can also lend support to the midfield whenever the need arises.
Ulrica Sutherland
Full Back: Ulrica is one of the most valuable players on the team and is the fastest defender in the side. After beginning her career on the forward line, she has now been moved to the defence to capitalize on her fearless and determined attitude which makes her the player with the most match time of the team.
Vashema Bourne
Wing back: With her lengthy stride, Vashema is deceptively quick and has a good sense of timing for the attack. A dedicated player who is dependable to get back and disrupt the opposing attacks, Vashema’s speed and conditioning will play a major role in the competition.
With the need to improve on its goal difference and chances to make the final of the Pan American Hockey Federation (PAHF) Cup, Guyana faced off against Bermuda today (August 3rd) in their third match of the PAHF Challenge. From the outset Guyana pressed the game into the Bermudan half and signalled their intent to score but Bermuda’s tough defence held of the initial challenge as their team struggled to string together counterattacks against the heavy pressure. Guyana however would gain a penalty stroke in the 13th minute as desperation set in for Bermuda who resorted to fouling striker Kerensa Fernandes before she could complete her shot at goal. Captain Chantelle Fernandes made good on the stroke giving Guyana the 1-0 lead. Dominique DeGroot would make it 2-0 eight minutes later by slotting home a rebound off the goalkeeper and was fouled herself just one minute later securing a second penalty stroke for Guyana. Marzana Fiedtkou scored the penalty to give Guyana the 3-0 lead at the half.
Chantelle Diving
Bermuda came out stronger in the second half and seemed determined to reduce the margin but Alysa Xavier in goal for Guyana matched every attempt as did Guyana’s sweeper Ulrica Sutherland. Captain Chantelle Fernandes would move her team to 4 ahead just five minutes into the second half with a diving finish registering her second of the match and Gabriella Xavier added another from the narrowest of angles 2 minutes later. Bermuda enjoyed a reprieve as the game stretched for 25 minutes before Guyana would complete their tally of 6 as midfielder Leigh Sandison was first onto a rebounded shot for the tap in.
Dominique Degroot
Coach of the Guyana side, Philip Fernandes, indicated that the team needed to score as many goals as possible in the match as goal average may play an important role since Guyana drew with Brazil. Fernandes said that their strategy for the match was designed to be very attacking with this specific objective in mind.
Guyana now leads the pool after the third day of competition with 7 points followed by pre-tournament favourites Uruguay on 6, Brazil on 4 and Paraguay and Bermuda remaining on 0. Guyana now enjoys two rest days before their next match against Uruguay on Saturday, August 6th at 12:00hrs. Meanwhile, tomorrow (Thursday 4th) will see Bermuda face Paraguay at 10:00hrs and the key matchup of hosts Brazil against Uruguay at 12:00hrs.
