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News for 14 February 2021

All the news for Sunday 14 February 2021


Marcano: PAHF postponements makes it hard to plan

By Nigel Simon


T&T senior women’s hockey team coach, Anthony Marcano

Anthony Marcano, head coach of the T&T Hockey Board women’s programme, says the postponements of events by the Pan American Hockey Federation (PAHF) makes it very difficult to plan.

Last month, the PAHF understanding that the coronavirus (COVID-19) was still having an impact in the region, decided to set a new date for the Junior Pan American Championships, a qualifier to the Junior Hockey World Cup. The tournament was first planned for April in Chile but has now been pushed back to August 16-29, 2021 in Santiago.

And now, PAHF has also postponed both the Pan American Challenge and South American Championships to be held in Lima, Peru. The new date, subject to the number of entered teams, is September 23 to October 3rd 2021.

The PAHF address stated: "We work to ensure safety for all involved in our events. There is still a lot of uncertainty, regarding COVID-19 status in different countries, and many of our national associations are still impacted by the lockdown with little activity or none."

The PAHF release added that its event coordinator is working in close contact with the Health & Safety Panel, to assist host countries and participants in preparation for events. It noted that general protocol guidelines will be provided closer to the dates of events.

Contacted for comment, Marcano, a former national player noted that apart from the national women’s team he was uncertain as to which countries would be involved as the teams that will be participating are nations that have not qualified already for the Pan Am Cup, so it would have been on requests basis and who are available to compete.

“When it comes to our programme, I think that the current situation in the world with the coronavirus pandemic it’s make the staging of the event in general doubtful with every time it's postponed.

"For the players, it also plays with their mental capacity it plays with their mental status as to when they are going to play and what are they training for as the tournament has been called off twice already.

"So the challenge is to keep the focus on that as more than anything else it becomes a mental game as opposed to a physical training game and I think we need to look at that."

A graduate of the International Coaching Enrichment Certificate Programme (ICECP), Marcano said,  “Where the program is concerned, we also have to look at some players who may be closer to retirement as well and they will be asking themselves can I sustain myself to that September time frame to where they have allotted or will it be pushed back even further.

He added, "Having the Pan Am Cup next year (2022) means that there is some qualifier that has to happen but where, how and when becomes the challenge.

"So the programme itself is difficult to plan for something when you are not sure when it is going to be, and every time that it changes any coach at this level will know and understand as well that the periodisation will also have to change.

"In that effect, it's difficult to run a program when you are not sure with what is going to happen."

The Trinidad Guardian



Covid gives trainees more time to prepare for JAC

By Jugjet Singh


Nasihin Nubli.

National women's coach Nasihin Nubli believes the Junior Asia Cup (JAC) postponement is a blessing as he now has more time to prepare his trainees for the tournament.

The JAC offers three Junior World Cup berths.

Malaysia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand and Uzbekistan have registered for the women's JAC.

The Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) yesterday postponed the JAC due to Covid-19 fears and restrictions.

The women's event was supposed to be held in Japan on April 11-17.

"It is actually good that the JAC has been postponed as we now have more time to prepare for it.

"I can also watch my trainees play in the Malaysia Hockey League in March against senior players.

"I believe the women's JAC will only be held after the Tokyo Olympics in July."

The AHF said: The tournament was postponed after consultation with the hosts and taking into account the restrictions in Japan.

"The International Hockey Federation (FIH) support the postponement and new dates will be discussed soon," said the AHF in a statement.

The men's JAC will take place in Dhaka on July 1-10.

New Straits Times



Field Hockey Wins Season Debut, 5-0, Against Hofstra

Caddy Secures First Career Win in Debut as Head Coach



STORRS, Conn. – Senior back Kourtney Kennedy recorded a hat trick while sophomore midfielder Sophie Hamilton added two goals and an assist as the University of Connecticut field hockey team defeated Hofstra, 5-0, in its long-awaited season opener.  With the loss, Hofstra slips to 0-2 on the season.

"It's really exciting to get our first win, 454 days after we ended our 2019 season," head coach Paul Caddy said following his first game at the helm.  "We are very thankful to our administration for getting us out here today because the weather is looking a little dicey tomorrow.  It meant a lot to the team to get out here and kudos to Hofstra for being flexible.  They played yesterday in Philadelphia so I appreciate them for making the change too."

Hamilton got the scoring started just 6:01 into the season when she beat Hofstra net-minder Merlijn van der Vegt for the ninth goal of her young career.

"Sophie; what can you say," Caddy said.  "Everyone is talking about Paige Bueckers on our women's basketball team well Sophie is our Paige.  She's that good and she's only a sophomore and we are thrilled to have her."  

Kennedy took over from there, scoring three goals off of UConn's highly-efficient penalty corner attack.  The back came into the season with five goals in her first 63 games in Storrs and nearly matched that total today with her first-career hat trick.

"Kourtney is one of our captains and she stepped up on the penalty corners this year with Abby Gooderham not being back," Caddy said.  "The execution was tremendously good on corners today."

UConn dominated all facets of the game, out-shooting the Pride 23-2, including 15-1 in shots on goal. The team also held a decisive 9-0 advantage in penalty corners.

The Huskies are back in action when the team travels to Philadelphia on Friday, February 19 to take on Saint Joseph's.  Game time is set for 12 p.m.

UConn Huskies

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