Latest update April 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
Nov 25, 2015 Sports
Men’s competition should be a cracking affair
By Rawle Welch
Guyana’s recent performances at the international level have certainly prompted renewed respect among its Caribbean counterparts and this present admiration has caused eagerness and excitement among teams and fans heading into this year’s Diamond Mineral Water Hockey Festival which opens tomorrow, at the National Gymnasium.
The local stickmen and women has been performing beyond expectations on the international circuit so there is every reason to believe that over the next four days of competition spectators who’re projected to swarm the indoor venue will no doubt be looking forward to sizzling action in the respective categories.
Defending men’s champion Pepsi Hikers should still be the team to beat because of how loaded they are with some of the most exciting players in the sport locally.
National team Captain Devin Munroe will most likely lead them once again and his vast experience at this level is always a benefit for the team’s chemistry and solidity.
This is a team that has won the title six times since its birth in 2004 and with a cadre of young stars in their line-up; a sensible wager would be that they retain the crown.
Tournament MVP in last year’s event Jamaarj Assanah has grown from strength to strength, but so too have Aroydy Branford, Robert France, Shane Samuels and Andrew Stewart and with their confidence sky high after a string of magnificent perforamnces both locally and internationally, every opponent will find them hard to beat.
Losing finalist from last year Old Fort has been somewhat of an enigma over the past five to six years, they just like the other teams possess a wealth of talent and game winners, but consistency appears to be their Achilles heel.
They are a hot and cold team that never seems to be able to replicate good performances night after night and at this level that is the standard requirement so for them to be reckoned among the favourites is kind of a gamble.
However, Aderemi Simon, who missed out on the recent Pan Am Challenge, will be eager to show that he is still among the best players locally.
The Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) once considered the strongest team in the country seems to be going through a transformation with the likes of the Fernandes brothers Philip and Alan more focused on playing in the veterans’ category, but they still have some very crafty players in Orland Semple, Kevin Spencer and Devin Hooper and they are capable of creating a few upsets so don’t count them out.
The strongest team on paper has to be the Revamp team out of Canada and they’ve won this tournament already so there is a certain familiarity with the opposing teams.
It was disclosed earlier in the week that four members of the Canada national team that won the Pan Am Cup will be coming and with the country being traditionally strong in hockey, local and regional teams should find the going tough against them.
Malvern out of Trinidad and Tobago need no introduction to Guyana, they are a usually strong side and they always come to compete and compete hard.
While they would have suffered the loss of several key players over the years, word is that there is a young brigade that are gifted players and skilful enough to create havoc amongst the very best teams in the competition.
The men’s competition should be a cracking affair for top honours.
Where is the BETTER MANAGEMENT/RENEGOTIATION OF THE OIL CONTRACTS you promised Jagdeo?
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