THE Guyana Hockey Board’s (GHB) 2009 outdoor season will flick-off today with a single match in the annual Farfan and Mendes Division One League at the GCC ground, beginning at 14:45 h.

According to the Board’s president and former national midfield player Philip Fernandes, GCC will take on arch rivals Old Fort in today’s opening game.

Fernandes said at the moment the weather remains bright and the GHB has made arrangements to begin the Farfan and Mendes League as the season’s opener of this “the most prestigious tournament on the local calendar.”

The business executive said this tournament features the perennial powerhouse GCC against arch rivals Old Fort in the opening game and added that the two clubs are the oldest existing clubs in Guyana and they have faced off in many an outstanding battle on the hockey field over the years.

Old Fort will be led by the evergreen Wayne St Jules in the defence and the crafty Dexter Wyles in midfield, along with the speedy and skilful Simon siblings Aderemi and Askofu, Jason DeSantos and John Abrahams.

The GCC line-up will feature the experienced Damon Woodruffe in defence along Dwayne Scott’s speed and power while Orlando Semple and Kevin Spencer will once again be looking to dazzle the crowd with their exciting stick work on the strike line.

The annual Farfan and Mendes First Division tournament is the longest running hockey tournament in Guyana, dating back over 30 years with its winner being considered the national outdoor men’s champions and eligible to represent Guyana at the annual Pan American Hockey Club Championships.

GCC has had a strong spell in recent times, winning the competition eight times over the last 10 years while the defending champions Hikers won outright on one occasion and were joint winners with Old Fort on another.