Golden girls: The Trinidad and Tobago national women's hockey squad celebrate yesterday afternoon after capturing the inaugural Pan Am 2007 Caribbean Cup tournament with a 1-0 win over Jamaica at the National Hockey Centre, Tacarigua.

 

Trinidad and Tobago men's and women's team defenders Kwandwane Browne and Sekayi Liburd were awarded the prestigious Most Valuable Player (MVP) accolades on Sunday night as the hosts secured a historic double gold capture in the inaugural Pan American Hockey Federation 2007 Caribbean Cup.

Browne, a converted midfielder, initiated his team's attacks with perceptive driven and scooped passes as well as marauding dribbles into opposing territory. The men's captain also topped the scoring charts with six goals--all penalty corners--including two in the Caribbean Cup final as T&T whipped Barbados 4-1 at the National Hockey Centre, Tacarigua.

Liburd, an orthodox central defender, rarely set foot in the opposing half of the field--except to act as stopper for penalty corners--but stood out for her intelligent reading of the game, focus and composure in carrying out her duties.

Another Trinidad and Tobago women's player, Yesenia Luces, was the top female scorer with four goals, including one penalty corner. But Luces' strike rate was just a fraction of her game as she led the offence with her link-up play, work rate and ability to retain possession for teammates.

The top goalkeeping prizes did not stay in Trinidad and Tobago, though.

T&T custodian Andrey Rocke conceded just one goal in four games but was beaten for top honours by Barbadian Andre Boyce and the "Land of the Flying Fish" doubled up as his compatriot, Lana Als, took the women's prize.

Browne and Boyce were joined on the Men's All Star Team by Trinidad and Tobago striker Wayne Legerton, midfielder Nicholas Wren and teenage full back Matthew Tang Nian, as well as Rohan Thomas and Dave Cox (Barbados), Alan Fernandes, Dwayne Scott (Guyana) and Leon Kerr and Richard Brown (Jamaica).

In the women's category, Trinidad and Tobago captain Stacey Siu Butt joined Liburd, Luces and midfielder Curlyne Wynn on the All Star Team while there were places too for Nicole Braithwaite, Chiaka Drakes and Als (Barbados), Trisha Woodroffe and Amanda Garnett (Guyana) and Sharee Russell and Nicole Grant (Jamaica).

Wynn scored the winning strike in Sunday's final as the Trinidad and Tobago ladies beat Jamaica 1-0, while Barbados edged Guyana for third place.

A Browne double and a goal each from strikers Legerton and Akim Toussaint-the latter was unfortunate to be left out of the All Star Team-paced the Trinidad and Tobago men to first place with Barbados second and Guyana and Jamaica third and fourth, respectively.