Hockey team shortlisted for Pan American Challenge

In preparation for their Pan American Challenge campaign in Chicklayo, Peru from October 3rd-11th, the local roster of the Guyana Men’s Hockey Team has been officially shortlisted to 22 players ahead of its final team selection.

The local squad which commenced training during the month of April, will be further whittled down into the final 16 shortly.

The provisional local squad reads (Field players) Orland Semple, Stuart Gonsalves, Andrew Xavier, Mark Sargeant, Kareem McKenzie, Daniel Hooper, Shane Samuels, Robert France, Devin Munroe, Randy Hope, Colonel Heywood, Rayon Branford, Jamarj Assanah, Aroydy Branford, Andrew Stewart, Leon Bacchus, Hilton Chester and Ato Greene. Similarly only one goalkeeper will be selected from the likes of Medroy Scotland, Jason Hoyte, Anthony Cole and Timothy Baker.

In terms of the overseas based players, the England based duo of Marvin Dannett and Matthew Taylor will also be vying for spots on the final roster. Both individuals were on local shores recently as part of their team assessment and featured in matches with the local players.

Guyana is slated to open their campaign on October 3rd against Uruguay before facing off with rivals Venezuela on October 4th. Other competing teams in the 11 country event are Barbados, Brazil, Ecuador, Panama, Peru and Puerto Rico.

The resulting top two finishers in the tourney will automatically qualify for the 2017 Pan American Cup in the United States of America (USA).

This event will also be the first international outdoor assignment for the Guyana team since 2007 when they secured silver and bronze medals at the ALBA Games and the Caribbean Cup respectively.

Similarly, Guyana made a successful return to the international indoor circuit, claiming a bronze medal at the 2014 Pan American Cup in Montevideo, Uruguay.

 

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