Hockey women leave for Pan Am Cup short of funds
As the Trinidad and Tobago women’s national hockey team is scheduled to fly to Mendoza, Argentina today for the Fourth Women’s Pan American Cup from September 21-28, the Trinidad and Tobago Hockey Board (TTHB) is still short of funds for the trip.
But Trinidad and Tobago Hockey Board (TTHB) president Douglas Camacho said the team will still make the trip, estimated to cost around $500,000.
While Camacho did not specify the amount of the shortfall, he said he hoped to keep dialogue open with the Ministry of Sport and the Sports Company of Trinidad and Tobago (SPORTT). Up to yesterday, Camacho was seeking sponsorship for the team.
“We have written the Ministry many times but they have not acknowledged the letters,” Camacho said, adding that the trip was part of their original budget.
However, asked about the matter, Director of Sport at the Ministry, Dave Bobb said, “I am not at liberty to disclose that information since what I may give you could be inaccurate. As far as I know the funding for the TTHB falls under the purview of SPORTT .”
A source, who wished to remain anonymous, also said the $243,000 cheque for expenses for the national men’s hockey team for their bronze-medal Pan Am campaign last month was still outstanding although officials at the Ministry of Sport had said it was ready.
To this, Bobb responded: “I am also not at liberty to disclose that information.”
“We will do our best to secure the funding through other avenues to meet the difference,” Camacho said, and we are hopeful that we will continue to have dialogue with the Ministry of Sport and SPORTT to the extent that they want to talk to us.”
The T&T team is being led by captain Alanna Lewis and coached by former national goalkeeper Glen “Fido” Francis. It includes 10 other players who were part of the T&T squad which ended fifth out of six teams in the FIH World League Round Two qualifiers held in Rio de Janeiro in March.
Those players are Blaire Wynne, Avion Ashton, Teresa Lezama and Zene Henry. The list also features Brianna Govia, Elise Olton, Kayla Brathwaite and goalkeeper Jeneille Carrington, while Kwylan Jaggassar and Brittney Hingh round out the team.
In Argentina, the 26th world ranked T&T will first do battle with the host country, ranked second, Guyana (56th) and Canada (23rd) in Pool A round-robin play. The top-ranked Pool B includes USA (10th), Chile (18th), Mexico (31st) and Uruguay (36th).
The winners of this tournament will qualify for next year’s FIH Hockey World Cup to be held in The Hague, Netherlands while the top six teams will qualify for the 2017 Women’s Pan American Cup. Teams placing seventh to eighth will be demoted to the 2015 Women’s Pan American Challenge.
This will mark the third appearance for T&T at the competition after they missed out on the 2001 edition held in Kingston, Jamaica. They have a best-ever finish of fourth, in 2009 in Hamilton, Bermuda after a 2-1 loss to Chile in the bronze medal contest.
T&T SQUAD
Alanna Lewis (captain), Anastasia Netto (GK), Jenielle Carrington (GK), Blair Wynne (vice-captain), Avion Ashton, Kwylan Jaggassar, Kristin Thompson, Teresa Lezama, Elise Olton, Amie Olton, Zene Henry, Brianna Govia, Tamia Roach, Kayla Brathwaite, Dana-Lee De Gannes, Amanda George, Brittney Hingh, Tamara De Nobriga.
Technical staff: Glenn Francis (coach), Nicholas Wren (assistant coach), Sharon De Freitas (manager), Nicholas Baldeosingh (IT Specialist), Karielle De Bique (physiotherapist), Kevin Macintyre (massage therapist), Dr. Zynul Khan (doctor), Amanda Johnson (sport psychologist)
Tournament fixtures
September 21:
USA vs Mexico, 1.30 p.m.
Chile vs Uruguay, 4 p.m.
Canada vs Guyana, 6.30 p.m.
Argentina vs T&T, 9 p.m.
September 22:
Chile vs USA,1 30 p.m.
Mexico vs Uruguay, 4 p.m.
T&T vs Guyana, 6.30 p.m.
Canada vs Argentina, 9 p.m.
September 24:
Mexico vs Chile, 1.30 p.m.
USA vs Uruguay, 4 p.m.
T&T vs Canada, 6.30 p.m.
Argentina vs Guyana, 9 p.m.
September 26:
Third Pool B vs Fourth Pool A, 11.30 a.m.
Third Pool A vs Fourth Pool B, 2 p.m.
Semifinals:
First Pool B vs Second Pool A, 6.30 p.m.
First Pool A vs Second Pool B, 9 p.m.
September 28:
Seventh - Eighth, 11.30 a.m.
Fifth - Sixth, 2 p.m.
Bronze medal match, 6.30 p.m.
Final, 9 p.m.