WITH the rehabilitation of the National Gymnasium and the installation of the synthetic matt floor at that facility a fierce competition is expected at the Guyana Hockey Board-organised, Diamond Mineral Water (DMW) International Hockey Festival which commences tonight. The tournament will see local and international clubs participate in three categories – men, women and veterans. Trinidad & Tobago and Barbados are expected to field clubs in this tournament and will add to the exciting participation of a number of high-profile players in the sport.
A beaming Guyana Hockey Board president, Philip Fernandes, in an interview  with Chronicle Sport said that a world of possibilities await the local athletes and the governing body, as they are now in a great position to accelerate the growth of the sport.
Fernandes related that Canada-based Guyanese Jonathon Roberts, who was the Most Valuable Player at the last Indoor World Cup, has described the floor as comparable to the ones used around the world for high-level competitions.
Roberts, who is the son of former Crime Chief Cecil ‘ Skip’ Roberts, will represent Old Fort in the DMW International tournament, thereby serving to enhance the profile of the event, as well as send a strong warning to the opposition that Old Fort should not be taken lightly this year.
Speaking about the floor he added that we can now market this festival where more teams can now make it a big plus for the GHB. He noted that this is the best local floor and the teams have been getting sessions to get to know the field before the festival opens. All systems are in place and a high quality tournament and will see the best hockey players in two Caribbean countries.
The tournament has over US$2 000 in cash and other prizes and will feature defending champions in the men’s category Hikers, Malvern in the women’s and GCC for the veterans.