By Michelangelo Jacobus
The Guyanese Women’s National Hockey team will head to Barranquilla, Colombia in July of 2018 as the top ranked Caribbean team after they beat hosts Jamaica in the Final of the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games qualifiers last Sunday.
It was a close contest for the most part of the game with both the Guyanese and the Jamaicans’ defence holding firm as the attackers tried their utmost to put their respective teams in front; however the first half remained goalless.
The game was turned on its head in the final period of play when Guyana’s Latacia Chung broke the deadlock from a Penalty Corner in the 48th minute to the delight of her teammates and the few Guyanese supporters present.
Speaking after her side’s victory, Chung revealed that she was “very, very happy, overjoyed at winning gold” while pointing out that the team will now focus their attention of preparing for Colombia.
Despite finishing second in the female competition, the Jamaicans have also qualified for the CAC Games in Colombia.
In the other female fixtures Bermuda also needled Puerto Rico to take bronze. Marisa Miro was the hero for Bermuda scoring from a Penalty Corner in the 30th minute.
In the men’s final between Guyana and Jamaica, issues affecting the lights of the arena forced a halt to the highly anticipated game much to the dismay of the Guyanese who were seeking revenge. The officials using the points system awarded first place to the Jamaicans while Guyana was adjudged second.
Jamaica finished top of the table after four games with 12 points, four victories while Guyana finished second with three victories, one defeat and 9 points.
In the third place playoff Puerto Rico triumphed over Guatemala 2-1 with Joseph Agosto and Gilberto Monserrate grabbing goals in the 19th and 42nd minutes while Leonidas Leiva scored a consolation goal for the Guatemalans in the 56th minute.
The CAC Games are slated for Barranquilla, Colombia in 2018 from July 19 and will end on August 3 with 37 countries from Central America, the Caribbean and South America participating.
