GHB/Digicel/Bounty one-day tourney
THE Guyana National Stadium, Providence, will host a historic one-day hockey tournament on Monday, as the Guyana Hockey Board (GHB) has been given the green light to use the facility. According to GHB president Philip Fernandes, a request was made to the stadium’s manager Tony Xavier to use the facility and the latter has given permission to do so for the inaugural hockey match.

While the GHB is not required to pay a fee for the use of the facility on Monday, the association will however have to pay those persons who are responsible for the facility’s maintenance.

The Digicel/Bounty One-Day Hockey Tournament will feature all of Guyana’s top teams playing the game on what may well be Guyana’s closest surface to the artificial pitches required for internationals.

The competition will feature invited men’s teams from top clubs GCC, Old Fort, Western Dragons and Hikers along with women’s teams from GCC and Hikers.

The GHB has limited the men’s competition to 1st division ensuring its best quality players are on show for all matches in keeping with the quality of the facility.

Several national men’s players are expected to be on show including national sweeper Dwayne Scott, skilful midfielder Kevin Spencer and the blistering pace of Devin Hooper as the striker for GCC.

The spectacular Simon brothers Aderemi and Askofu will be on show for Old Fort, while the `magician’ Jerry ‘Skillaxe’ Bell and the ultra-productive Devin Munroe are sure to lead the Hikers’ challenge.

Overseas-based hockey scholarship holder, Chantelle Fernandes, is back to bolster the offence of the mighty Hikers ladies which is already supercharged with the pace and precision of Cora Towler and Amanda Garnett.

The sturdy defence of the GCC Tigers and Spartans, however, will prove to be formidable opponents with Tricia Woodroffe and Marzana Fiedtkou anchoring the back while captain Sonia Jardine and the evergreen Brennette Gordon lead the attack.

With a new venue and two brand new sponsors in Digicel and Bounty, the GHB expects a thrilling affair as teams will anxiously want to produce their best hockey and embrace the coveted winners’ trophy.

The Hikers and Dragons men’s teams get the first touch at 09:00 h and games are expected to run until 17:00 h.