The Guyana Hockey Board (GHB) is gearing up to host the Diamond Mineral Water Indoor Hockey Festival later this year but officials are hoping for a break in the weather to resume the outdoor season.
Philip Fernandes, President of the GHB has confirmed that the Indoor Festival will be staged later this year at the National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue.
The Annual Festival was called off in 2010 for the first time after the playing surface at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall was deemed dangerous for players after rehabilitation work was done to the floor.
However, a new surface was laid at the Gymnasium and local hockey officials decided to switch last year’s to the Mandela Avenue facility.
Fernandes said that the current inclement weather has had its toll on the outdoor season with the premier Farfan and Mendes first division and John Fernandes Insurance Service second division still to be completed.
The local hockey board head told Stabroek Sport as soon as there is a break in the weather there are plans for the Annual Banks outdoor Night tournament under lights at Thirst Park. “We also plan to run off the National Indoor Championships which will serve as a pre-qualification tournament for the Festival,” Fernandes added.
He said the National Women’s players continue preparation ahead of their World Cup qualification tournament next year.
The National advanced to the next round of the World Cup elimination tournament following their second place finish behind Uruguay at the Pan American Challenge in neighbouring Brazil last year.
Fernandes said details on the team’s preparation will be disclosed next week as they start the next phase of their training.
Asked if teams from Guyana will be taking part in this year’s Banks Brewery Festival in Barbados, Fernandes said that no team will be going this year since matches will be played on grass due to problems with the artificial surface on Caribbean island.
“While teams from Guyana stand a good chance of winning the tournament it would be a backward step as teams had previously travelled to play on the artificial surface there,” he added.
