Streatham student gets call to represent Guyana in World Cup qualifiers

Streatham’s Hannah Baptiste will be missing from her graduation ceremony at Richmond University – but has an excellent excuse.

The 25-year-old marketing student, who has played for AFC Wimbledon Ladies, has been asked to attend a training camp with Guyana and could play in World Cup qualifiers.

Baptiste has been capped by England when she was 16 after impressing in trials – going on to face Northern Ireland.

She said: “I haven’t played internationally since I was 16, because I’ve been busy with my studies. But my grandparents are from Guyana, so I can qualify for their team.

“I found out this week that they want to fly me out to training camp and then they have World Cup qualifiers the week after that.

Guyana’s coaches were in contact after watching footage of her playing.

Baptiste transferred to Richmond University from St Andrews University in America, where she had been on a football scholarship, in the spring of 2016.

“I originally wanted to study psychology but then realised it wasn’t for me,” said Baptiste. “Communications is something that I really enjoyed and so I made my decision to come here.

“Richmond took all of my credits from my university in the states so that was amazing as well.”