Defending champions Hikers and other clubs are set for the 10th edition of the Diamond Mineral Water International Indoor Hockey Festival which will officially start today at the National Gymnasium.
The tourney which will also feature local sides the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) the National U-19 unit, Renegades and Old Fort among others, will be contested over three divisions. The designated sections are the men’s, ladies and veterans divisions. Trophies and cash prizes will be awarded to the respective winners and runners-up in the corresponding men’s and women’s divisions. The victorious teams in the both sections will each walk away with US$1000. The runners-up will receive US$500.
Winners of the veteran event will receive US$500 with the second place teams receiving incentive prizes.
The men’s division is predicted to be particularly competitive as defending champs Hikers will be challenged by a strong field which will consist of Old Fort, perennial arch-rivals GCC, and a fast improving under-19 squad along with Renegades.
In the ladies section, defending champions GCC Tigers will be in action against the Hikers ladies, Spice and Old Fort while the veterans section will witness defending champs Hikers facing off with GCC, Old Fort and Trinidad and Tobago unit Carib hockey club.
In an effort to improve the quality of the event, the Guyana Hockey Board (GHB) conducted a coaching and umpiring course funded by the Pan American Hockey Federation (PAHF). The coaching course which started on December 2 and will run until December 6 is being conducted by PAHF coach Anthony Marcano of Trinidad. Meanwhile, the umpire’s course which runs from December 3-6, is being conducted by Gus Soteriades of the USA.
