Jamaica Hockey Federation (JHF) President Fabian Stewart says he expects the national men’s hockey team to make its presence felt at the International Hockey Federation’s (FIH) Hockey5s Men’s World Cup, which begins on Sunday morning in Muscat, Oman.

The 2024 Hockey5s World Cup, the first edition of the FIH Men’s Hockey5s World Cup, is the quadrennial world championship for men’s national hockey5s teams organised by the FIH. It will be held from January 28-31.

Jamaica will play in pool “B” with Egypt, India, and Switzerland. The Jamaicans are to take on Egypt on 1:30 am before tackling Switzerland the same day at 7:30 am. They are to conclude their group stage against India at 11:00 pm.

The top two teams from each group will advance to the quarter-finals.

Stewart says that the goal is to compete strongly while also garnering support for their general development as an international squad.

“I feel tempered and cautiously optimistic,” Stewart told the
Jamaica Observer.

“This will be our first FIH Hockey5s World Cup experience against more highly resourced and internationally experienced opponents. And I am expecting our players to compete as best as they can, giving 100 per cent every time and continue to build from this invaluable experience.”

Stewart says the players and staff that arrived in Oman on Wednesday have settled in and are well prepared for the competition.

“The boys have arrived in Oman safely and they went through their regular preparation process well,” he said. “Things are relatively smooth except for a couple of the bags which were delayed but all in all, they are settled. The food is not a problem and the arrangements at the hotel are excellent.”

Despite the difficulties in obtaining funding for friendly international matches leading up to the tournament, Stewart says the team is determined to compete and showcase their skills at the international level.

“We just didn’t have the budget for friendly matches,” he said. “All of that was in the budget that was originally crafted, but we just don’t have the budget for it. The idea was to have some matches even possibly en route.”

Stewart says that his entire coaching staff has done what he describes as an outstanding job with the players, keeping the team together and allowing them to stay focused.

“Once the nation was over us qualifying, literally making history, the next move in terms of competing at the World Cup was on the minds of the team because the team believes that they can compete,” he said. “So, they are preparing to compete as best as possible, given the resources.”

Squad:

Ajani Burton (co-captain)

Rasheed Johnston (goalkeeper)

Richard Harris (co-captain)

Christopher Reid (co-captain)

Tyrone Vernon

Kemar Mitchell

George McGlashen

Daniel Powell

Shemar Gordon

Tuseef Graham

Reserves:

Kevon Reid

Kevaun-Reidy Reid

Phillip Dawson

Jahchin Mullings

Nickoy Stephenson

Management team:

Duvaughn Henlon (head coach)

Ebony McLean (manager)

Kameisha Erskine (assistant coach/manager)

Yyael Jagbir (physiotherapist)

Michelle Holt (doctor)