Key players: Mathieu Pain (goalkeeper), Tremalnaick Thine (goalkeeper)

Martinique are looking forward to this new experience at the North America and Caribbean Emerging Nations Championship, in which they will be able to show their skills and their French style of play.

Martinique coach Mickael Borry believes their goal will be well defended in Santo Domingo: “Our goalkeepers and our defence 3-3 are our strengths.” Their preparation for the upcoming regional championship began in February and included one friendly match with a local team.

Key players: Camille Regy (left back), Nathan Sebastien (centre back)

Dominica will compete in Group A at Santo Domingo 2019. Coach Edmund Audain knows they will have to face “two opponents long-established in handball,” but they still dream big and “expect to reach at least the semi-final stage.”

Audain points out their “speed of execution” as the strongest side of his team, while he is aware of the lack of experience of the squad. “We have been playing handball for four years at a youth level. It’s a new sport for Dominica,” mentions Audain.