Barbados’ national women’s hockey team will open their campaign against Uruguay this afternoon at the 2012 FIH World League Tournament in Trinidad and Tobago.
The team left the island last Friday and will take on Uruguay, ranked 50th, a team which coach Ralph Watson said he knew very little about.
Already fielding a young team, the Barbadians were dealt a tough blow when Patrina Brathwaite and Shani Best withdrew. According to Watson, Brathwaite was a wealth of experience that has gone.
The team will be captained by Cher King and Katrina Downes is the vice-captain. It comprises several girls who are still at school. Many of them are making their first trip and therefore have no international experience.
Barbados will also play Venezuela (58) tomorrow and, after a day’s rest, will come up against Canada (23), favourites to advance to the next round, followed by Guyana (58) and Trinidad and Tobago (27).
Barbados are ranked 41st.
The men will open their campaign on Wednesday against Chile who are ranked 25th. An upset could put them among the three teams to advance.
Barbados are 47th and coach Dominic Hill told SUNSPORT they had a good mix of youth and experience. One of their players was unable to make the trip because he wasn’t released by his employers.
“With the time frame that we had [to prepare], we should do okay,” Hill said.
“The tournament came around a lot earlier than we expected, but we will use it to gauge where we are for the 2014 Central American And Caribbean Games and the Pan Am Games in 2015.”
Like the women, Hill said they were unable to get any practice matches and hoped to arrange one when they arrived in Trinidad and Tobago.
The team, which is captained by Aaron Forde, will leave the island today.
Also drawn in their group are Venezuela who are 57th and 47th-ranked Trinidad and Tobago. Two spots are up for grabs in the next round. (SAT)
The Squads:
Women: Cher King (captain), Katrina Downes (vice-captain), Kemi Brewster, Kirsha Cambridge, Vanessa Chewitt, Shanice Clarke, Ingrid Gaskin, Cherise Moore, Shakira Oxley, Camille Pounder, Shakeira Sandiford, Shontelle Sargeant, Tamisha Small, Ayanna Wilson, D’Jamilia Edwards, Chantelle Browne, Ralph Watson (coach), Corlette Kellman (manager).
Men: Aaron Forde (captain), Andre Boyce (vice-captain), Keenan Knight, Neil Franklyn, Evan Brooks, Paul Gill, Shawn Harewood, Cyprian Payne, Shonkeel Wharton, Kamar Bovell, Chef Warner, Akeem Rudder, Rohan Thomas, Jabari Walcott, Justin Catlin, Kris Holder, Jamar Lashley, Laurando Davis, Dominic Hill (coach), Antonio Forte (manager), Jasper Blades (trainer).
