Daraine Luton, Freelance WriterTHE JAMAICA Hockey Federation (JHF) is desperately in need of money to send its men's and women's teams to participate at the Pan American Junior Hockey Championships.
The men's tournament will be held in almost a month's time from February 16-27 in Havana, Cuba, while the females are due to play in Puerto Rico in virtually two month's time - March 16 to 27.
Participating at both of these championships fit into the goal of the JHF to develop the sport locally but at this very moment, things look very gloomy owing to the federation's financial position.
According to the secretary of the JHF, Dinsdale Laing, it will take approximately $4 million to send both teams to the Pan American Championships but to date, they only have one million dollars - a quarter of the amount.
SAD SITUATION
"Our goal is to ensure the development of the sport in Jamaica but if we are unable to find the funds, then we might as well forget it," Laing said. "It is a real sad situation we are faced with," he added.
The focus of the JHF has been on developing youngsters through various programmes with the aim of making Jamaica a powerhouse in the region again, as they have fallen some distance after winning the women's Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games gold medal just over a decade.
It is out of this vision that the JHF is reluctant to miss the opportunity of blooding talent at the junior Pan-Am event.
PURPOSE
"We want them to be able to compete for a place in the senior team when the CAC Games come around next year, so we have to find the money to send both teams," Laing pointed out. "Not being able to get them to Cuba and Puerto Rico will defeat the purpose of our development plan.
"It is our view that Jamaica can be on top of the region once more but if we are unable to send the teams, this cannot become reality," he added.
Former national senior team player and coach, Dr. Michelle Holt, who now coaches the women's Under-21 team, believes that her girls, in particular, stand a good chance of doing well at the Pan American Games.
"A lot of these players are going to be stepping up to the senior team so it is very important that we get the exposure. They have been training together for a long while; they are a very lovely team and I expect them to do well if they participate," Dr. Holt said.
