The Guyana Hockey Board’s (GHB) Farfan & Mendes and Woodpecker Products men and women’s first-division leagues will bully off from 4pm this afternoon at the Providence National Stadium, the GHB says.
Originally scheduled for August, the leagues had to be repeatedly postponed due to inclement weather which rendered the grass fields of the traditional clubs unplayable. However, thanks to the intervention of the Minister of Sport, Charles Ramson Jr., and with unwavering support from Director of Sport, Steve Ninvalle, the GHB has received the green light to utilise the Guyana National Stadium, widely regarded as one of the top grass fields in the Caribbean, to host the league matches.
“To add to the grandeur, the opening ceremony and the final two evening games will be conducted under floodlights, an exciting spectacle that underscores the significance of this event,’ a release from the GHB stated.
The GHB stated that it wanted to extend heartfelt gratitude to Minister Ramson and his team for the invaluable assistance.
The competition, which will be played every Sunday from October 8 to November 12, will see four of the country’s premier clubs in action: GCC, Hikers, Old Fort, and Saints Hockey Club.
The Farfan & Mendes men’s first division league is currently the longest-running hockey competition, spanning over four decades since its inception in the 1980s, stated the GHB in the release.
The GHB also noted that Woodpecker Products has been a steadfast sponsor of the women’s first-division league for over a decade, demonstrating it commitment to the hockey community.
The opening ceremony, scheduled for 19:00hrs, will feature the participation of both male and female teams, creating a memorable kickoff for the league. However, it is important to note that the games themselves will commence at 16:00hrs, and all are invited to attend.
GHB president Philip Fernandes is excited over the fact that the tournament is finally able to get underway.
“This league has been eagerly awaited, and we are thrilled to finally be able to launch this exciting competition,” he declared.
