The Diamond Mineral Water (DMW) international indoor hockey festival will be graced this year with the presence of as many as 11 foreign teams from Canada, Trinidad and Barbados. These, coupled with top local qualifying clubs, Hikers, Old Fort and GCC are sure to put on an impressive show of high quality, entertaining indoor hockey for which the Festival has become known.
This year the Canadians, Revamp Hockey Club, led by Guyanese Jonathan Roberts pose the strongest challenge for the gold in the Men’s division.
Roberts migrated to Canada some 13 years ago and has represented his adopted home internationally, including the last indoor World Cup in Poland in 2011.
Another member of the team of Guyanese lineage is a Canadian international, Scott Sandison, whose mother has represented Guyana several years ago before migrating to Canada herself. Both Roberts and Sandison have competed and were victorious in the local festival on two occasions, including the inaugural one in 2004.
The Canadians are further strengthened by several other internationals and junior internationals completing a side that will be difficult to defeat.
Local Men’s indoor giants, the Hikers, boast the best results in the festival, winning a record four times. The defending champions have regained the services of indoor national Shane Samuels, who will anchor the youthful additions of Jamarj Assanah and Aroydy Branford to produce a solid contingent.
Former champions Old Fort of Guyana will hope to regain their glory of 2010, and much will be riding on the shoulders of the phenominal Aderemi “Dove” Simon, whose misfortune left him on the injured list for the recently concluded national championships.
Not to be taken lightly
The YMCA of Barbados have competed in the festival before and have clearly improved with every outing.
Judging from their last performance in 2011, they are not to be taken lightly. They are spearheaded by former Barbados national captain Rohan “Teno” Thomas who honed his hockey skills for some years in the United Kingdom before returning to the island. Newcomers Queens Park is a top indoor side from Trinidad who will be testing the waters for the first time in Guyana and local national champions GCC round out the solid pool of top class sides.
Equally competitive
In the Women’s competition, the Canadians once again seem the side to beat as several of the players from last year’s victorious Toronto Academy return under the banner of the Toronto Toros this year. The side founded in 2011, field a full squad of top players from their home city of Toronto, including national midfielder Krie Sher. Last year’s silver medallists Magnolias of Trinidad with their superstar striker Stacey Sui-Butt return with a vengeance to improve on their second place finish. The inaugural victors have a good crop of young players who are sure to make them genuine contenders for the crown once again.
Three-time festival champions and local top side GCC have entered their strongest side to date in this year’s festival.
The team feature a number of players who have trained on the Guyana national squad over the past few years, including national sweeper Ulrica Sutherland and dynamic striker Gabriella Xavier. Moving up from the junior ranks is the skillfull Aliyah Gordon, who will complete a potent GCC attack.
Malvern Hockey Club of Trinidad have also worn the festival crown in the past and will produce one of the more experienced sides in the festival, while the rebuilding Hikers will be looking to establish a name for themselves this time around.
The Carib Veterans Challenge will feature the largest collection of teams with eight sides vying for the top honours. Local sides GCC, Hikers and Old Fort feature among the most consistent sides, but former champs Fatima along with Malvern, Carib, TT Defence Force and TT Police forge a strong Trinidadian challenge.
Defending champs the Hikers will be strengthened this year by the inclusion of Jerazeno “Skillaxe” Bell, but will have their hands full with the challengers abound.
The tournament will begin this evening with three matches between local sides and will continue until Sunday when the finals will be contested.
