Latest update February 16th, 2025 7:47 AM
Latest News
- Oil in Liza 1, 2 and Payara to be drained in less than five years
- ExxonM does not deny paying taxes in Bahamas but tells K/News to focus on how the oil deal is delivering money to Guyana
- Thousands take part in London rally against Donald Trump’s Gaza plan
- Govt. aggressively pursuing digitizing of health sector – Pres. Ali
- 275 cases of child abuse recorded in 2025 – Min. Persaud
GHB President encouraged by men’s team performance at Pan Am Challenge
Makes another plea for an artificial surface
President of the Guyana Hockey Board (GHB) Philip Fernandes speaking with Kaieteur Sport on
Philip Fernandes
Wednesday about the encouraging performances of the national team currently participating in the Pan American Hockey Federation (PAHF) Pan Am Challenge in Chicklayo, Peru said that the team has been exceeding the expectations of the Pan American Hockey Community by its display against teams ranked much higher than them.
According to Fernandes, “The Guyana Hockey Board is very pleased with the performance of the men so far and is confident that they have the quality to finish among the medals.”
Fernandes, who has been at the helm of the women’s national squad for some years now, added that while the draw against Puerto Rico was a good starting result, and the decimation of Panama really emphasised the team’s offensive quality, it was the match against the highly touted Brazil that was most surprising.
He revealed that, “Brazil has a very strong hockey team which has been receiving tremendous support from the International Hockey Federation and the Brazilian Olympic Committee as they aim towards participation in the 2016 Rio Olympics, so for us to come away with a draw was a tremendous result and one that clearly demonstrates that if the right level of funding is given what can be achieved”.
He pointed out that Guyana competes at such a great disadvantage to some of the other nations that it is a credit to the players and coaching staff that the team continues to turn out good performances.
”I have been made to understand from a member of the Brazilian media that the Brazilian team spent five (5) months this year training in Europe and was funded to the amount of BR$1.3M (est USD 341,000) for the year.
The GHB Head said that Guyana in the meantime with no external funding and no artificial surface on which to prepare, often have to rely on superior fitness and tactics to make up this shortfall.
Following on the success of the women for the past several years, the GHB is hopeful that the continued success of its national teams will render support for their appeal for an artificial hockey pitch to be installed in Guyana.
Meanwhile, Guyana’s Aroydy Branford with eight goals is second in the aggregate with Venezuela’s Cristian Vargas at the top with ten. Guyana is set to play Venezuela, who topped Group B today in semi-final action.
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
The Opposition is engaged in self-sabotage
Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News- You know, I never thought I’d see the day when elections in Guyana would become something... more
OAS Secretary General Election and renewed OAS Consensus
Antiguan Barbudan Ambassador to the United States, Sir Ronald Sanders By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News- The upcoming election... more
Weekend Cartoon
