This country's senior women's hockey team will flick off their campaign in the second edition of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) World League First Round qualifying tournament against little fancied Puerto Rico from 11.30 am at the newly laid Mona Campus Hockey Facility, Kingston, Jamaica today.
It will be the first of five matches for the Anthony Marcano-coached "Calypso Stickwomen" who will also face Dominican Republic tomorrow (October 1), Jamaica (October 2), Barbados (October 4) and Venezuela on Sunday to conclude round-robin play at the end of which, only the top team will advance to round two in Montevideo, Uruguay from February 28-March 8, next year.
Speaking prior to the team's departure on Saturday morning, Marcano said he was very satisfied with the work put in by the players.
"They put in a lot of work and now its for us to go and reap the rewards of those efforts. It's not going to be easy though, as we are the top Caribbean team, which comes with a target on your back for the other teams."
Concerning the fixture line-up for his team, Marcano who also coaches local club Harvard Checkers said playing the teams who were considered the weaker teams in the group early on would allow his team time to see what it main rivals have to offer.
"We are expected to pick up maximum points in our two first matches without any problems but we know Jamaica and Barbados can be tricky tests at times, however I am confident in team's ability to win every match."
Included in the team for Jamaica, which will be captained by Patricia Wright-Alexis are the experienced quartet of Blair Wynne, Krizia Layne, Oire Trotman and Sekayi Liburd who all missed the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland where T&T was beaten in all five matches by a combined 52-1 goals margin.
... Hockeymen have first day bye
While the local hockeywomen get their campaign off and running, the local men will have a chance to see their four rivals for top spot as the Raphael Govia-coached T&T squad has a first day bye.
When the men's competition flick off Venezuela faces Dominican Republic from 2 pm and Barbados comes up against Jamaimca from 7 pm which will give the Darren Cowie-led "Calypso Stickmen," the reigning Caribbean champions to ample time to prepare for tomorrow's first match against Venezuela from 11.30 am.
T&T will then face Dominican Republic on Thursday from 4.30 pm followed by Barbados on Saturday (2 pm) and host Jamaica on Sunday from 7 pm to end round-robin play which will see the overall winner securing the lone spot available to the Second Round in Chula Vista, California, next year (February 28 - March 8).
Squad
T&T women's team: Petal Derry (GK), Arresia Sandy (GK), Alanna Lewis (C), Patricia Wright-Alexis (C), Blair Wynne, Kayla Brathwaite, Tamia Roach, Dana-Lee De Gannes, Brittney Hingh, Krizia Layne, Zene Henry, Sekayi Liburd, Brianna Govia, Amie Olton, Elise Olton, Kristin Thompson, Oire Trotman, Keima Gardiner.
Technical staff: Anthony Marcano (coach), Stacey Siu Butt (assistant coach), Sharon De Freitas (manager), Natalie Nieves (assistant manager)
T&T men's hockey team: Andrey Rocke (goalkeeper), Karlos Stephen (goalkeeper), Darren Cowie (captain), Aidan De Gannes (vice-captain), Akim Toussaint, Wayne Legerton, Solomon Eccles, Michael II 'Otis' O'Connor, Jordan Reynos, Stefan Mouttet, Nicholas 'Triston' Grant, Ishmael Campbell, Shaquille Daniel, Marcus James, Shane Legerton, Kristien Emmanuel, Kiel Murray, Tariq Marcano.
Technical staff: Raphael Govia (interim coach), Kirth David (manager), Cindy Martin-Faustin (head of delegation), Zynul Khan (doctor), Karielle De Bique (physiotherapist), Nicholas Baldeosingh (IT technician)