The Guyana Hockey Board (GHB) has shortlisted 36 local male players that will begin preparation for the Indoor Pan American Cup, which will run from April 7th-14th 2014, in Montevideo, Uruguay.
According to a press release from the GHB the event will serve as a senior continental World Cup Qualifier, with the victorious side earning the opportunity to participate in the 2015 International Hockey Federation (FIH) World Cup.
This will be Guyana’s first male international sojourn since their participation in the 2010 Pan American Cup when they placed fifth out of eight nations. Prior to that event, Guyana had only competed in the 2005 Indoor Pan American Cup where they finished an international best fourth place.
Returning to the international circuit after a three year hiatus due to financial constraints, the team will be under the guidance of newly appointed national men’s head coach Robert Fernandes.
Fernandes, who is also former national player and current coach of the outstanding Hikers Cadets unit, recently completed his FIH level 2 and Pan American High Performance coaching courses.
Seen as a changing of the guard, 19 of the 36 selected players are under the age of 21. Guiding this young brigade will be the experienced Devin Munroe, Kevin Spencer, Aderemi Simon and Shane Samuels, who all have multiple international caps to their names.
Some of the exciting young prospects breaking into the senior setup include Aroydy Branford, Jamarj Assanah, Omar Hopkinson, Andrew Stewart and Steven Xavier.
The complete member list of the training squad are Orland Semple, Kevin Spencer, Raphael DeGroot, Stephen Xavier, Eric Hing, Kareem McKenzie, Keon McKenzie, Mark Sargeant, Medroy Scotland, Robert France, Devin Munroe, Randy Hope, Colonel Heywood, Travon Younge, Jamarj Assanah, Aroydy Branford, Rayon Branford, Andrew Stewart, Leon Bacchus, Michael Harding, Shane Samuels, Laured Stewart, Jason Hoyte, Osafo Timmerman, Joel Hunte, Chris Low-Koan, Dwight Sullivan, Aderemi Simon, Askofu Simon, Jason DeSantos, Anthony Cole, Omar Hopkinson, Richard Thomas, Micah Hartman, Timothy Baker and Stephon Sprostra.
Overseas players such as England-based Marvin Dannett are also expected to make strong cases for their respective inclusion.
