SUNDAY, June 11, 2023 will forever be etched in the minds and hearts of the Jamaica Hockey Federation (JHF) and local supporters, after the national men’s hockey team’s historic qualification for the 2024 Hockey 5s World Cup.

Jamaica reached this crucial milestone when they defeated Paraguay 5-2 on Sunday at the Mona Hockey Field, fnishing third in the Pan American Confederation Hockey 5s World Cup Qualifiers.

Nickoy Stephenson scored three goals including a field goal in the third minute, a penalty corner in the seventh minute, and a field goal in the 12th. Shemar Gordon scored the other goals for Jamaica, a field goal in the ninth minute and a penalty corner in the 20th.

Paraguay’s goals came from Elia Vera’s field goal in the 11th minute and Guillermo Benitez’s penalty corner in the 14th minute.

The Jamaicans joined the United States and Trinidad and Tobago in qualifying for the event which will be hosted in Muscat, Oman, from January 24-31. The United States won the Hockey 5s Cup with a 3-2 penalty shoot-out victory over Trinidad and Tobago, after the game ended 3-3.

Stephenson expressed his delight at his team’s achievement, stating that qualifying for the first-ever Hockey 5s World Cup means everything to the squad.

“To be honest, I don’t know what to say,” Stephenson told the Jamaica Observer, “but I can tell you that I am overwhelmed and the team is overjoyed for this moment in Jamaica’s history.

“The Paraguay team played well but we overcame the challenge and performed admirably to win the game. We were shaky at the start of the competition but we eventually improved and worked hard for him. Our goal was to qualify for the World Cup and we did it, so I’m just happy,” he continued.

It was the perfect start for the Jamaicans as Stephenson comfortably struck past Paraguay goalkeeper Roberto Fleitas within the opening three minutes of the game. Stephenson scored from a penalty corner to make it 2-0 then Gordon put the Jamaicans ahead in the ninth minute, making it 3-0 at the interval.

When Paraguay’s Vera scored in the 11th minute, after the hosts lost Kevon Reid to a yellow card, it got stressful for the Jamaicans. Stephenson, however, restored Jamaica’s three-goal lead in the 12th minute before being sent off, leaving just two field players and the goalie to combat Paraguay’s five players — but the Jamaicans held on in the end.