Hockey players will battle over the next four days in the Annual Noble House sponsored Goals Galore Indoor tournament at the National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue.
The tournament will bully off this evening with two divisions in a novelty format where teams begin a match with different goal tallies aimed at making the matches more competitive.
The “A “Division will feature ‘Bounty GCC’, Hikers Generals, Old Fort ‘A’, GCC Brodras and Hikers Cadets.
Bounty GCC with a zero handicap (0) are the defending champions of the senior division but former junior division champs, the Hikers Cadets (+3) have moved up a division this year to make a challenge.
GCC Pitbulls will square off with Old Fort in the junior division followed by Saints versus the Flora GCC Tigers at 17:20 hours.
The A division remains wide open with several teams capable of high goal tallyies.
Defending champs Bounty GCC (0) have been consistent in making several finals appearances in recent times but stumbling at the last hurdle and will be led by the ultra-competitive Dwayne Scott and skillfull Orland Semple and Kevin Spencer.
Old Fort (+2) has been brilliant at times with Aderemi Simon being among the country’s best performers on any given night but their challenge will be to maintain consistency throughout the tournament.
The discipline and cohesion of the Hikers Generals (0) make them one of the top indoor sides in the region with an unmatched record locally.
Captain Devin Munroe will once again be at the helm while the speed of Robert France and the talented Reon Brandford will be vital assets in support.
The GCC Brodras (+3) is a fit and entertaining side while the Hikers Cadets (+3) feature many of the country’s talented junior nationals including the Assanah brothers and Captain Leroy Jack.
The B Division features 4 ladies teams and 3 junior men’s teams largely comprising of players coming out of the recent schools’ programme.
The Flora GCC Tigers (0) are ranked the top side in this division and have enjoyed great success in recent years. Led by the mesmerizing stickwork of Captain Sonia Jardine, recent Most Valuable Player (MVP) Gabriella Xavier and goalkeeping prodigy Alysa Xavier, they will prove a difficult side to beat.
Archrivals the Hikers Divas (+4) will showcase the exciting prowess of Maria Munroe and Cora Towler along with the blistering speed of Captain Avonda James. The GCC Snipers (+2) will showcase a mix of former nationals in strikers Tricia Fiedtkou and Brennette Gordon along with their junior counterparts of the club.
Hikers Revelation (+8) stages an encouraging group of young ladies led by Captain Macaela Harding and will improve with every match. Old Fort juniors (+5), Saints (+5) and the GCC Pitbulls will feature some of the very talented players who are new to the game but have a good enough handicap to create an upset and claim the gold.
Play continues nightly at the Gymnasium with the finals set for Sunday.
