England-based Kwandwane Browne will lead a 23-member T&T senior men’s hockey team which leave today for a two-week training camp in Belgium. The camp is being used by the locals as part of their preparations for the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) and Commonwealth Games. Browne is already in England and will meet up with the players en route to Belguim.
In addition to Browne, the local team heading to Europe includes five other players who ply their trade in England in Dillet Gilkes, Terrance Baptiste, Matthew Tang Nian, Mickel Pierre, Evan-Piers Farrell. The team which will be accompanied by two local coaches in Bruce Tang Nian and Glen “Fido” Francis as well as manager Denise Scanterbury will link up with the T&T Hockey Board Coaching Consultants, Netherlands duo, Eric Verboom and Rob Haanjtes on arrival in Belgium.
The team also features five senior squad newcomers in Chad Pedro, Carlos Stephens, Shaquille Edwards, Jovan Woodward and Dominic Jaikaransingh. The team is expected to return home on July 9 before heading off to the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico ten days later.
Following the CAC Games the national men’s indoor team will then take centre stage as they compete at the Indoor Pan American Championship, August 9 to 15 in Barquisimento, Venezuela. The Commonwealth Games is carded for New Delhi, India in October, where the local men have been placed in Pool B along with England, New Zealand, Canada and South Africa. Reigning champions Australia are in Pool A with Pakistan, India, Malaysia and Scotland.
