A WHOPPING 51 men and 40 women have been invited to national trials by the Barbados Hockey Federation (BHF) in preparation for the 16th Pan American Games which takes place in Mexico in a year’s time.
Both the men and women secured bronze medals at their last assignment – the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico in late July.
Both teams lost to arch-rivals Trinidad & Tobago and Mexico but salvaged some pride by still collecting a medal.
The Pan American Games, which runs from October 14-28 in Guadalajara, is a much tougher task with world-class teams such as Argentina, Canada and the United States among their eight countries participating.
Combermere School Old Scholars (CSOS) boast the most men’s invitees, with recent vice-captain Aaron Forde heading a pack of 11 players.
Deacons, the 2009 Premier League champions and one of the title challengers this season, have seven invitees, including Neil Franklin, Jamar Lashley and Jabari Walcott, who were in the CAC squad.
Andre Boyce, the national captain and first-choice goal-keeper in Puerto Rico, is one of six All Stars players called up.
The BHF has also made a change in the coaching ranks for the men’s set-up with former Maple and Barbados striker Shawn Cumberbatch being chosen for the first time to replace Peter Chase.
Cumberbatch, who coached Deacons to their first major title last season, will be assisted by another former Maple and Barbados star, Venslough Leacock.
The women’s team staff remains the same, with Elias Fanus, head coach, and Ralph Holder, assistant, keeping the reins. Both are former CSOS and national caps.
CSOS, the Premier League champions in 2009 and 2010, have eight players at trials, including recent captain Maria Sealy.
Arch-rivals Empire, who won 11 out of 12 Premier League titles between 1997 and 2008, gained nine invitations, including all eight players who were in the 16-member CAC squad last July.
MEN:
Andre Boyce, Evan Brooks, Barry Clarke, Omar Drakes, Dario Jordan, Jamar Small (All Stars); Kevin Fenty, Che Roach (Avengers); Curwen Brewster (BDF); Kamar Bovell (Combermere); Kelvin Alleyne, Dwayne Atherley, Omari Drakes, Ryan Drayton, Aaron Forde, Chetwyn Henry, Brian Puckerin, Gregory Puckerin, Paul Reid, Marc Squires, Khevyn Williams (CSOS); Derwin Burrowes, Neil Franklin, Randy Jules, Jamar Lashley, Keiron Taylor, Jabari Walcott, Shonkeel Wharton (Deacons); Renaldo Holder, Mark Murray, Cyprian Payne, Rodney Phillips, Akeem Rudder (Eastern Stars); Errol Clarke, Paul Gill, Keenan Knight (Empire); Richard Blunt, Ramon Leacock, Bradley Sargeant (Maple); Justin Catlin, Kris Holder, Shane Lewis, John Warner (UWI); Dave Cox, Donovan Smith, Ayoub Suttle (Wanderers); Romario Howell, Dario Lewis, Neraj Mason, Rohan Thomas, Shawn Harewood (YMCA).
WOMEN:
Shanice Clarke, Joanna Davis, Nakira Downes, Dareece Greenidge, Alix Millington, Cherise Moore, Shontelle Sargeant, Dana Wilson (All Stars); Shara Browne, Shamika Haynes, Shakeira Sandiford, Tammisha Small, Erin Williams (Avengers); Jennese Birkett, Maria Gill (Banks), Reyne Farnum, Cher King, Lynn-Marie Wilson (Combermere); Teri Alleyne, Katrina Downes, Keisha Jordan, Jehan Lashley, Gillian Marville, Camille Pounder, Maria Sealy, Reiann Stoute (CSOS); Telecia Morris (Deacons); Lana Als, Nicole Brathwaite, Dionne Clarke, Ingrid Gaskin, Allison Haynes, Sheena Nichols, Shakira Oxley, Kimberley Rock, Charlia Warner (Empire), Takirsha Cambridge (Maple), Katrina Alkins, Shani Best (UWI), Chiaka Drakes (overseas). (CC)