DEFENDING men’s champions Bounty GCC will be given a chance today to defend their similarly named trophy as the Guyana Hockey Board opens its 2014 season with the Annual Bounty One-Day Hockey Competition at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.GCC, having lost a few of their senior players since last year’s edition, will need to rely on an emerging crop of talented juniors including the McKenzie brothers, Keon and Kareem, to keep their record intact.
The Hikers Cadets, boasting the largest presence on the current men’s national indoor squad, are likely to pose a formidable challenge as the entertaining duo of Jaramj Assanah and Aroydy Branford always produce moments of great entertainment with their speed and dazzling skills.
A revamped Old Fort, under new leadership, have been improving with every showing and are certain to also make a strong challenge for the cup. As long as the incomparable Aderemi ‘Dove’ Simon is on the field for Old Fort, and teammates Jason DeSantos and John Abrams provide the lethal finishing at the goal, the trophy remains in their grasp.
The men’s tournament also sees Saints making an entrance being led by the solid midfield play of Joel Hunte, along with veteran sides Hikers Generals and Ol’ Skool, all of whom have the quality to challenge for the gold.
The ladies’ competition sees returning champions the GCC Tigers line up as favourites as sisters captain Sonia Jardine and Kerensa Fernandes will lead a potent attack, supported by the relentless national sweeper Ulrica Sutherland marshalling the defence.
The Hikers Divas are the strongest likely challengers to the Tigers as the forward line of national strikers Janella Munroe and Cora Towler will be further boosted by the return of Amanda Garnett. Marisha Rodrigues and Latoya Fordyce round out their solid defence.
The newly reorganised Old Fort ladies will be anchored by veterans Sonia Gordon and Carol Caine.
The Old Fort side, although new to the game, have already displayed their immense talent in previous outings and hope to create a few upsets in this competition.
Matches begin at 09:00hrs and run until the evening with the final beginning at 17:00hrs.