Company sponsors National indoor hockey League

THE Guyana Telephone Telegraph company (GTT) on Friday pledged to continue its support of hockey this year by recommitting an age-old deal for the annual National Indoor Championships.
The most prestigious local indoor hockey Championship dates back to 2000 with the competition being held every year except for 2002, when there was a seasonal disruption and 2011 when the facility was being renovated.
During a brief ceremony at its Hadfield Street canteen, GTT handed over an undisclosed sponsorship value to the event with Public Relations Officer (PRO) Allison Parker expressing the company’s commitment to sport.
Meanwhile, Guyana Hockey Board (GHB) president Philip Fernandes gave an overview of the 2016 edition.
“The Championships once again will be held at the National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue from October 31 to November 5 when the national champions in all senior divisions – men 1st division, women’s and men’s 2nd division – will be crowned.”
The PEPSI Hikers were the men’s 1st Division champions back in the inaugural tournament and enter this year’s edition as two-time defending champions. They boast the best winning records in regional competition and will once again be led by stalwarts Devin Munroe and Captain Robert France.
However, their toughest competition is likely to come from the record championship holders,Bounty GCC, with seven trophies to their name, and three-time winners Old Fort.
GCC’s dynamic duo of Kevin Spencer and Orland Semple help to make their club a threat in this competition while the outstanding Aderemi Simon and skilful Jason De Santos keep Old Fort in the running.
The first-ever GTT ladies champions, the now defunct Western Dragons of Uitvlugt, live on in their lone remaining representative, Ulrica Sutherland, who represents Pizza Hut GCC and their record ten championship victories over the years.
The Pizza Hut ladies enter as strong favourites this year,boasting an unprecedented seven-year winning streak. Prolific strikers Sonia Jardine and Kerensa Fernandes are likely to energise the crowd and strike fear in the minds of opponents with their usual goal-scoring prowess.
The Hikers ladies will be led by recent Lucozade MVP, Marisha Fernandes, with fellow national Maria Munroe and the exciting young talent of Nicole Eastman in support.
The Old Fort Shooting Stars have been improving with each outing and have grown into genuine contenders for the tournament mostly through the pace and skill of Minsodia Culpepper and athleticism of goalkeeper Sarafina Phillips.
The Spartans are a young side eager to improve on their recent outings and feature the new emerging talent of strikers Sarah Klautky and Abosaide Cadogan.
Matches begin on Monday, October 31 at 17:00hrs and competition runs until the evening of Saturday, November 5.