National hockey players continue CAC preparations

Feb 10, 2010 Sports

We have the capability of surprising some teams – Fernandes

The female players selected to prepare to represent Guyana at the upcoming CAC Games in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico from July 22-31 began their second week of training under the watchful eyes of Head Coach Phillip Fernandes and his Assistant Rawl Davson at the GCC ground on Monday.

Kaieteur Sport caught up with Fernandes and sought an update on the team’s training as they prepare to participate at the CAC Games for the first time.

Fernandes was seen taking the players through a Beep Test to ascertain their individual fitness levels which according to him will improve as preparations intensify.

What are some of the things they have to work on

?-

Fernandes

– Definitely, from what I have seen so far the skills have fallen off a bit and that is to be expected since the players are coming off the Christmas holidays.

We had a lot of indoor hockey in the latter part of last year that is the Diamond Mineral Water Tournament. So now it’s back to the outdoors, its dry season again.

Their skills are a little rusty so we need to sharpen that up.

Definitely for the first three weeks, we will be working on a lot of technical aspects of the game and getting back to outdoor techniques; receiving, passing long range passing, these are things they would not have been doing during the indoor phase, especially lifting the ball off the floor, off the grass, passing etc.

So, we will be working on a lot of that initially and then after that we will be going into selection. Because we will have an idea of the standard of all the girls, do a few games and then once the team is selected which we anticipate will occur towards the end of March after which we will go into the tactical aspects. That will include team offence, team defence, set pieces, penalty corners, those sorts of things.

What international tournaments you have between now and July?-

Fernandes

– Unfortunately, there are no international tournaments set for this time. What we intend to do is, we will book into our schedule two possible trips to Trinidad, weekend trips where the team will be able to go and train on the artificial surface. The intention is that we go for three days, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. We will train in the mornings and play games in the afternoon against some of the top club sides or national selection sides. We plan to have two of those tours prior to the CAC games in July.

This is the first time that Guyana will be participating in the female segment at the CAC Games.

How are they reacting to the fact that they will be the first such team to participate at the Games?-

Fernandes

– The girls have not yet understood the magnitude of this undertaking. To go to the Games where multiple sports are played is a fantastic experience and I think the moment will be big, so hopefully their nerves won’t get the better of them, while they are there because the competition will be fierce. Teams are going to the CAC Games to qualify for the Pan Am Games. That is a very important step for most countries, going to the CAC. I think that everybody will be preparing very thoroughly to get that done right so I think we can expect a lot of strong competition in the tournament.

What are our chances in the competition, if you can predict at this time

?

Fernandes

– I think we will be ranked as one of the weaker teams going into the tournament we will be the underdogs because the fact is we have not been competing internationally, especially within recent years. Guyana has recently returned to women’s international competition, and there is a bit of running curves getting up there and competing with the best. However, I think we have an enthusiastic bunch of girls, they are dedicated. I think also, we have a coaching staff that are willing to put in the necessary work and if we get the exposure on the turf as we plan to and we continue to train the way I see that they can, I think that we have the capability of surprising some teams and I wouldn’t rule out the possibility of us making it to the finals.

Meanwhile those called to practice are: Alysa Xavier, Tonza Sarrabo, Natalie Hing, Tracey Atkinson, Jonelle Webster, Tricia Woodroffe, Sonia Gordon, Tiffany Solomon, Vanessa Pires, Wendy Boodhoo, Vashema Bourne, Tricia Fiedtkou, Marzena Fiedtkou, Thalia Fiedtkou, Makini Harry, Marisha Rodrigues, Sonia Jardine, Shondell Durant, Maria Munroe, Chantelle Fernandes, Cora Towler, Amanda Garnett, Brenette Gordon, Ulrica Sutherland, Carol Caine, Gabriella Xavier, Dominique DeGroot, Kerensa Fernandes, Shebeki Baptiste and Avonda James.