In two days the seventh Diamond Mineral Water International Hockey Festival will bully off at the National Gymnasium and while some of the local teams have mixed expectations about results at the conclusion, the tournament is expected to improve and expose emerging talents.
Captain of Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) Women’s team Sonia Jardine went as far to say that the upcoming event should be used as an incentive for the Guyana Hockey Board (GHB) to acquire its own facility. Jardine was adamant that there are a good crop of players, especially in her club, and therefore their talents will have to be developed in a conducive environment.
She indicated that a facility that the GHB can call its own will do well for the sport, citing already that the move of the tournament from the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) to the National Gymnasium was a step in the right direction based on feedback received from practice sessions. However, she stated that the gymnasium must be seen as a temporary resort for hockey.
The Guyana Volleyball Federation (GVF), in partnership with the World Volleyball Federation (FIVB), opened the newly-refurbished volleyball court at the National Gymnasium last month. On this surface the hockey clubs have been practicing for the upcoming four-day tournament.
Commenting on her team, Jardine said that she expects good performances from the male and female senior teams, along with GCC’s third team that will be entered. She said that she does not know what the team will be called but pointed out that it will be made up of younger, less exposed players and some of the older players.
She said that the young players in the teams have improved tremendously and this will be the tournament to expose them. She also lauded the efforts of goalie Alicia Xavier.
President of the GHB Philip Fernandes had told this publication that a range of solutions are being explored for the body to have its own facility. Stabroek Sport also was told that the sourcing of an imported floor from overseas manufacturers has already begun.
He had said that the prices coming from the Chinese manufacturers have been better than those in the USA.
Captain of the Hikers’ Women’s team Maria Munroe said the team has been encamped for the last six weeks. She revealed also that while this was the case, the team is not 100% ready but their aim is to make the finals before thinking about expectations.
She pointed out that the team is a young one and they are working on getting team strategies completed before the start of the tournament. She said initially the team has been working on individual talents of the younger players but now they are down to brass tacks trying to get them au fait with “team strategies and systems.”
Devin Hooper, captain of the male GCC team, said that preparations have been going fairly smoothly, especially since the unit has been granted access to the better playing facility at the gymnasium. He acknowledged though that the absence of indoor competitions for the year and a practice facility compounded their problems.
These factors, he also said, would mean a difference in the level of play of the local teams and the overseas teams. However, he was optimistic of his team’s chances in the competition. Meanwhile, Fernandes had said that the planning of the event has been smooth. Eight overseas teams – six from Trinidad & Tobago, one from Barbados and another from Canada – have already confirmed their participation for this year’s tournament and they will start arriving tomorrow evening.
There will be no teams from Europe this year.
