By Marlon Munroe
President of the Guyana Hockey Board (GHB) Phillip Fernandes has expressed his association’s gratitude to the sponsors of the Diamond Mineral Water International Indoor Hockey Festival stating that the GHB will immediately start preparations for next year’s tournament.
At yesterday’s press briefing in the main pavilion of the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) Fernandes thanked the sponsors and lauded the media for the exposure the tourney received.
He also reported that the tournament attracted more sponsors this year.
On the other hand, he said that the tournament received the blessings of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA), Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport and the Guyana Red Cross. “Players, officials and supporter now have more than hockey to talk about upon leaving this year’s festival and already indications are positive that next year’s festival could be one of the largest ever,” Fernandes opined. “Our Festival Committee must also be congratulated on the staging of a well-run festival and for putting in a great deal of time and hard work. This is the best team of organizers that I have worked with to date on the festival and such persons rarely receive the recognition they deserve,” he added.
Meanwhile, Fernandes acknowledged that they were some flaws that could not have been ignored and these he said were part of the reasons that some of the overseas teams did not attend. He said that his association has already pointed out to the Sport Ministry, which the GHB should reach shortly, that the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH), the venue where the tournament was held, needs urgent attention.
He indicated that the playing surface at the CASH was uneven and the English association had indicated that this was the main reason for not attending the tournament, now in its sixth year.
Fernandes said that while this year there was a decrease in the amount of teams (from seven to five) he was optimistic that there will be a larger contingent next year once the logistical and other problems are worked on.
He also mentioned that following the conclusion of the tournament, hockey scouts have indicated interest in some of Guyana’s players.
He said that some of the scouts had seen some talented players and had alerted the local association that they would like to have some of those players play as guest players in the Trinidad and Tobago hockey league.
“The quality hockey performed at this year’s festival was around the highest we have seen and high praise must be given to defending men’s champions, the Hikers, for managing to keep their head above the rest in defending their title for the second time to become the festival’s first three-time winners,” he said.