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By Michael DaSilva

Local hockey teams have been given the green light to use the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall as well as the National Gymnasium as they prepare for the Guyana Hockey Board of Control (GHBC)/Diamond Mineral Water International Hockey Festival scheduled for November 25-28.

According to Festival Coordinator, Troy Peters, the GHBC was given permission by the National Sports Commission (NSC) to use the two facilities.

Seven overseas teams are expected for the tournament which will be played at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Ventures, Magnolia's and Malvern are three ladies teams expected from Trinidad and Tobago. This, according to GHBC president Philip Fernandes, will be the largest number of ladies' teams to visit Guyana since 1976.

They will battle with Guyana's Everest Hikers, GCC and Old Fort Hi Flyers in a ladies round-robin competition.


The overseas men's teams that have confirmed their participation are; Malvern of Trinidad, Combermere School of Old Scholars of Barbados, Brooklyn All Stars and Toronto Big Dogs of Canada.

The local men's teams that will be participating are Everest Hikers, GCC and Old Fort Hi Flyers.

Former national vice-captain Jermaine Roberts is a member of the Brooklyn All Stars' team while his younger brother Jonathan is a member of the Toronto Big Dogs.

The Toronto Big Dogs team also includes former national players Rene Edwards, Audwin Graham and Vernon King.

According to Peters, Jonathan, who is a member of the Canadian under-21 team plans to hold coaching sessions for local junior players after the Festival. Both Jermaine and Jonathan are the sons of former national captain and Guyana Police Force Crime Chief, Cecil `Skip' Roberts.

The winners of both the men's and women's categories will receive US$1000 while the runners-up will cash in on US$500.

Renowned sports journalist/commentator Joseph `Reds' Perreira, who has been the inspiration behind the venture, recently donated US$1000 towards the staging of the tournament.

Perreira encouraged the GHBC to promote the festival in an effort to push the Sports Tourism drive in Guyana.

Peters said a number of business houses have come on board and are offering special prizes as incentives.

Peters said the Festival's planning committee had meetings with the NSC and Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport and well as with the Commissioner of Police, Winston Felix, and these meetings have been very fruitful.

According to Peters, Police Commander `A' Division Paul Slowe has been assigned responsibility for security and traffic control while Deputy Superintendent Morrison of the Immigration Department, has been asked to assist with immigration matters for the visiting teams.

Peters added that two of FIH's leading hockey umpires in the Caribbean, Trinidadians Suzie Gomes and Garth Baptist are expected for the Festival while the GHBC has asked the other teams to walk with at least one umpire.

Peters said the Guyana Olympic Association has pledged to provide medical personnel from their team of doctors in the event of injuries and medical emergencies.

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