PRESIDENT of the Guyana Hockey Board (GHB) Phillip Fernandes says that the recent uptake in hockey players is primarily because of the usage of the Skip Roberts Youth Developmental Facility in South Ruimveldt Gardens, currently run by Old Fort Hockey Club.
‘This in large measure is due to the fact that the old Fort Hockey Club has now acquired a small patch of artificial surface, and they have laid it down in an area in South Ruimveldt, which was kindly provided by the government for the community and sports in the community, and that in fact not only built their club substantially, but other clubs and children have been able to go and utilize that space.’
Fernandes said prior to the setup of that facility, only the artificial facility at the GCC ground, Bourda, was in use.
‘There was only one such facility at GCC, where the whole country, in fact, tried to use it to train and practice their skills, and now that has doubled the capacity, and we have seen a good effect from that, and in addition, they have had some strong school programs, especially the one at St. Stanislaus College, that continue to generate new faces into the game.’
The GHB president said this, coupled with their annual indoor school tournament played early in the year, has produced some of the top juniors and improved the quality in the junior ranks.
‘The junior school tournament has been the biggest signal factor in terms of spreading the game and development of our youths over the last 5-6 years. That has in fact exposed waves of children as they come through high school to the game of hockey, and it gives them an avenue to compete and to make friends across schools, Fernandes concluded.
In the recently concluded National Junior Indoor Championship played at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, the hockey board fielded 30 teams featuring in the U17 and U21 male and female categories.