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.
A diving finish by right wing Amanda Garnett sent the Guyana ladies into wild celebration as the goal signaled their first lead in a game that saw them drop behind from the outset. The Guyanese ladies played the second match of the opening day as the PAHF Challenge began on July 31st in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Despite a good start, Guyana conceded in just the third minute to Maria Servian Giosa of Paraguay when Guyanese left back, Marzana Fiedtkou, lost her footing and the ball deep in the Guyana half. Paraguay made good on their counter-attack and were up by one goal in just the third minute of the match. Guyana controlled most of the possession for the rest of the half and forced the game into the Paraguayan half but a number of corners and run-of-play chances were squandered as the Guyanese, in their golden Dixie Lee gear, tried to settle their nerves and the pressure of being down.
The second half would see an improved performance by the Guyanese who earned their 7th penalty corner of the match and first of the second half in the 61st minute. Striker Kerensa Fernandes, who was unfortunately on the substitutes’ bench during the penalty corners of the first half, blasted home a rocket of a shot past the Paraguayan goalkeeper to draw her team even. Fernandes would have a golden opportunity to put her side ahead when she intercepted an errant Paraguayan pass in defense but found the sliding goalkeeper with her hurried shot.
Gabriella Xavier, who had been enjoying a productive game in midfield received the ball from the right and made a long through pass to the Fernandes high on the left wing. Fernandes, noticing the Paraguayan defenders being caught out, threaded her pass across the face of goal to find the sliding right wing Amanda Garnett for the winner in the 60th minute. Although Paraguay would threaten through a few long counterattacking runs, the Guyanese looked firmly in control of the match and maintained their lead for the rest of time.
Earlier in the day, hosts Brazil made light work of Bermuda with a 3-0 victory after gaining a 1 goals lead at the very end of the first half. Favourites, Uruguay, take the pitch for the first time on Monday August 1st against Bermuda at 10:00 while Guyana faces Brazil at 12:00 in the following match.
From left: Trevon Younge and Jamarj Assanah of Hikers Hockey Club
The Hikers Hockey Club, junior development program realized one it’s main goals this week, when it partnered with Queen’s Park Hockey Club of Trinidad & Tobago to enable two of it’s most promising young players to compete in the Trinidad & Tobago outdoor leagues.
Extended overseas stints with foreign clubs was one of the recommendations made by the junior players themselves at a junior development camp held by the club last year. However this particular project was the brainchild of long time Hikers member Jerazeno Bell who now resides in the twin island republic and competes for Queen’s Park. The two players who will benefit form this project are Jamarj Assanah and Travon Younge, both players will be training and competing with Queen’s Park on artificial turf for a three week period. The players arrived in Trinidad on Thursday morning and are scheduled to play their first matches this weekend.
The Hikers Hockey Club intends to make this project an annual event, where promising junior players are given the opportunity to train and compete abroad during the summer school break.
All Stars humble Under 21’s; Old Fort dominate Airbenders as 2ND Division Hockey continues
Damon Woodruff passes to Allan Fernandes
Azad DeAbreu, highly regarded as a top goalkeeper for Hikers and the national hockey team, showed his skillfulness as a player when he netted 4 goals in a one sided affair against the Male National Under 21 team at thirst park on Saturday afternoon. DeAbreu led the Carib All Stars, a team comprising or players over the age of 35, looked organized from the start. Though the U-21 squad had speed on their side it was not enough to convert into goals. After a 4-0 run by the veteran players Shaka Assanah managed to slip one past the goalkeeper to score the lone goal of the U-21 team. However in the end it proved not to be enough to overcome the experience and skill of the All Stars. Colin Aaron, Phillip Fernandes and Dexter Wyles also contributed to the 7-1 thrashing of the U-21 side.
Jason DeSantos secures ball from Airbender Defenders
In another mismatch of the day Old Fort defeated the Airbenders 4-1. Jason De Santos scored a hat-trick while Kevin Melville sealed the victory in the 63rd minute against the female side; securing their first victory in the tournament thus far. The only player to score for the Airbenders was national player Chantelle Fernandes in the 43rd minute. The John Fernandes Insurance Service Second Division Hockey Tournament continues at various venues around the city.
Game 1- Guyana National Under-21 vs. Malvern (Trinidad & Tobago) (Males)
The first game of the tournament saw the youngsters facing off against an experienced Malvern. The experience factor worked against the U-21 within the first 5 minutes of the game when the Trinidadians scored their first goal. Following this initial penetration of the inexperienced defense there was a relentless attack by Malvern. Their constant attack yielded results at the end of the half the scoreboard read: 6 – 0 in favour of Malvern.
The first half proved to be a somewhat humiliating and demoralizing blow to the U-21, but they were not to be outdone. As the second half resumed there was a sense of renewed vigor and determination by the young side. Though frustrated they persisted in attempting to penetrate the defense of Malvern. They were rewarded with a goal after only 4 minutes following the resumption of the game. This however did not stop Malvern from continuing their barrage of their defense so as to secure their victory in the opening game in the tournament. What happened for the remainder of the game was much to the dissatisfaction and dismay of the U-21 players and their fans. The final score for the first game of the tournament was: Malvern 12- Guyana National Under-21 1.
Game 2- Malvern vs. Queens Park (Females)
This game saw two Trinidadian teams facing off. The first indication I got from these teams was they had relatively good knowledge of each other’s abilities and weaknesses. This was evident in the way the teams were able to hold off each other for most of the first half. This spell was broken by Malvern with a skillful goal that caught the goalkeeper off guard. This was followed closely by Queens Park to equalize before halftime.
The second half was more energetic and entertaining for the fans. This was mainly because the game took on a more physically aggressive pattern by the teams. Despite this, Malvern were able to secure two more goals to their advantage. A valiant attempt by the females of Queens Park was however rewarded by another goal to their credit before the final whistle. The final score was: Malvern 4- Queens Park 2.
Game 3- Everest Hikers vs. Old Fort (Males)
This proved to be the feature game of the evening. Not only was the playing on the court fast paced and skillful but the response from the fans and spectators was to its peak. The first team to strike was Everest in the opening minutes of the game. This led to a relentless attack on their goal by the Old Fort strikers. Their efforts were rewarded 9 minutes into the first half to equalize. The efforts by each team to keep the other at bay were successful until the last five minutes of the game when the Everest struck again to secure an advantage going into the end of the first half. However, Old Fort were not outdone, just before the first half ended they scored the equalizing goal on a penalty corner.
The excitement experienced during the first half was repeated and even multiplied in the second half. Hikers regain the lead with a spectacular goal by Mark King from the top of the Old Fort circle. Old Fort responded with two quick goals to take their first lead of the game and put the Hikers in a tough position to regain the advantage or at least to equalize. This wish was granted when Timothy Mcintosh used a short corner to secure the equalizing goal. The final score was: Everest Hikers 4- Old Fort 4.
The tournament continues until Sunday and should feature other teams such as; Everest female, Trinidad Defense Force, Queens Park Men and GCC male and female. This tournament promises to be an exciting and competitive one. by Andrew Ross
