Mona Hockey Field.
The Hockey 5s World Cup Qualifiers are set to begin on Sunday, June 4 at 1:00 pm at the Mona Hockey Field.
On the opening day of the tournament, ten (10) games are scheduled to take place, with Paraguay and Costa Rica facing off in the opener.
The Jamaica Women’s National Team will start their journey to the 2024 Oman World Cup at 5:00 pm against fellow Caribbean team Trinidad and Tobago, while the 7:00 pm feature game will see the Jamaica Men’s National Team facing the United States of America.
Guatemala, Panama, Uruguay, Brazil, and Puerto Rico will also open their accounts on day one.
Hockey 5s, the T20 version of field hockey, is a fast-paced version of the game played on a smaller pitch with five players on each team.
It is known for its high-scoring matches, dynamic skills, exciting gameplay, and swift transitions.
The tournament promises to be an intense and captivating event, with fans eagerly awaiting the on-field action as some of the finest teams from the Americas compete for an opportunity to represent their country on the global stage in Oman next year.
"We are extremely excited to host the Hockey 5s World Cup Qualifiers," stated Fabian Stewart, President of the Jamaica Hockey Federation.
"This tournament will showcase the exceptional talent of hockey players from across the Pan American region, and we eagerly anticipate witnessing the intense level of competition. Being chosen as the host for this vital qualifying event is a tremendous honour, and we are confident that we will witness outstanding performances from the teams as they vie for a spot in the World Cup."
Jamaica qualifies for Men's Hockey 5s World Cup alongside Trinidad & Tobago and the USA
The PANAM Hockey 5's World Cup Qualifiers concluded on Sunday, June 11, 2023 with Jamaica sealing a World Cup spot after defeating Paraguay in the 3rd place game, while the USA clinched the title with a penalty shootout win over Trinidad and Tobago.
With blazing speed and clinical finishing, the Jamaican team dominated Paraguay, securing an impressive 5-2 victory.
Nickoy Stephenson turned in a Man of the Match performance, scoring a hat-trick, while Shemar Gordon added a brace to secure a well-deserved win. The Jamaicans flew out of the blocks as Nickoy Stephenson opened the scoring in the 2nd minute, then doubled the lead with a 6th minute strike. The Paraguayans were stunned by the intensity and fast attacking play when Shemar Gordon added a third in the 8th minute for a 3-0 lead. However, the Paraguayans thought they got a lifeline when Vera Elias scored in the 10th minute but those hopes were quickly dashed as Stephenson completed his hat trick a minute later.
Despite going down to three men after a quick succession of cards, the Jamaicans were able to hold off the Paraguayans, led by a valiant display of tactical discipline backed up by truly astute goalkeeping from Goalkeeper of the Tournament and captain, Ajani Burton.
The Jamaicans were able to seal victory and put the game beyond doubt with a 19th minute goal from Shemar Gordon for a final score of 5-2.
This momentous accomplishment is a testament to the talent, dedication, and resilience of the Jamaican players, as echoed by Head Coach Duvaughn Henlon.
"We are very elated and ecstatic that we made it to the World Cup, and I’m very proud of the players who have been playing some very good hockey over the week. We are happy that we delivered for Jamaica but will turn our attention to preparing for the Central America and Caribbean Games, which start in the next two weeks, to try and achieve those goals."
Henlon went on to thank the coaching staff, management team, sponsors, family, and friends and called for additional support from corporate Jamaica.
Meanwhile, the final between United States against Trinidad and Tobago ended in a 2-2 draw. In the nerve-wracking shootout, the United States of America showcased nerves of steel, emerging triumphant with a 3-2 score line.
Trinidad & Tobago took a very early lead when Pierce Mickell scored in the 1st minute before the USA equalized eight minutes later through Sundeen Tyler. Marcano Teague then gave the Trinidadians another lead in the 15th minute before the USA equalized, once again, through Michael Barminski Jr in the 17th minute.
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