Latest update March 29th, 2024 12:59 AM
Dec 04, 2014 Sports
The tenth annual Diamond Mineral Water International Indoor Hockey Festival begins today. The festival is one of
the largest and most popular in the Caribbean and over the years has attracted top teams from the Caribbean region and North America.
This year’s festival unfortunately falls on the heels of the recently concluded Central American and Caribbean Games in Vera Cruz, Mexico and has had an impact on the participating teams. According to festival coordinator, Philip Fernandes, teams had indicated an interest up to recently but with their top players all now returning from Mexico it would be difficult for them to travel again. Fernandes indicated that the festival usually attracts the top regional players and that teams are often reluctant to attend with substandard selections. Meanwhile, the players from Toronto had committed since earlier in the year to a tour of Europe in preparation for the Indoor World Cup in February.
Although mostly local teams will be on show for this year’s festival, the standard is still expected to be high as Guyana has been making a name for itself on the international stage resulting from its recent silver medals by the Guyana men’s national indoor team at the PAHF Cup in Montevideo, Uruguay.
Top nationals, Jamarj Assanah and Aderemi ‘Dove’ Simon along with their many national counterparts are certain to put on a highly quality and entertaining show for the spectators. The men’s division is expected to be particularly competitive with any one of the contesting sides appearing to have the ability to take the prize. Local favourites, the PEPSI Hikers will be challenged by a strong and resurgent Old Fort, perennial arch-rivals, GCC, and a fast improving under-19 squad along with a wild card team in Renegades.
The Digicel ladies competition will see defending champions the GCC Tigers in action against the Hikers ladies, Spice and Old Fort.
Carib hockey club of Trinidad has entered a competitive Carib veterans Challenge against defending champs, the
Hickers, national champions GCC and Old Old Fort.
Cash prizes and trophies will once again be awarded to the winners and runners-up in the male and female and veteran categories. The winning teams in both male and female tournaments will each receive US$1,000 while the runners-up will cart off US$500. The winner of the veteran tournament will receive US$500 with the second place teams receiving incentive prizes.
This year’s festival will also be complimented by the conducting of a coach’s course and an umpire’s course funded by the Pan American Hockey Federation. PAHF Coach, Anthony Marcano of Trinidad is conducting the coach’s course which commenced on 2nd December and will run until 6th December, while Mr. Gus Soteriades of the USA is facilitating the umpire’s course from 3rd December to 6th.
THIS IDIOT TELLING GUYANA WE HAVE NO SAY IN THE 50% PROFIT SHARING AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH EXXON.
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