Guyana: Hockey Board wants land for astro turf facility - says treasurer Ivor Thompson  x4
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| Guyana Club Hockey |
January 7, 2002 
Stabroek News
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By Michael DaSilva
Acquiring Guyana's first Astro Turf facility and contesting the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Hockey Championships is among the Guyana Hockey Board of Control's (GHBC) major plans for this year.
According to GHBC's treasurer Ivor Thompson, his association will be making every effort to ensure hockey makes a forward move this year with the acquisition of an Astro Turf facility, and is seeking the assistance of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports to acquire a piece of land.
Thompson said also that his association plans to send a senior male team to Puerto Rico to contest the CAC championships in November, with the hope of qualifying for the 2003 Pan American Championships.
"The International Hockey Federation (FIH) said if we (GHBC) can acquire the land and 60 percent of the cost of the turf, the FIH will find the remainder of the funds so that Guyana can have its first astro turf facility," Thompson pointed out, adding "They have made a commitment".
According to GHBC's General Secretary Gregory Sills, every year, the FIH gives assistance to two countries and it is expected that Guyana will be one of the two this year.
Sills said Pan American Hockey Federation president Von Ordarzo promised to assist the GHBC to acquire the much needed facility "Ordarzo was at the Pan American Club Championships in Barbados last year and witnessed Georgetown Cricket Club's Hockey section's silver medal performance and was so impressed especially since we (Guyana) do not have an Astro Turf that he made the commitment," Sills explained.
Sills, however, said that the GHBC is still to get a reply from the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport with regards making available to the association, a piece of land to lay the turf.
"We (GHBC) spoke with Minister (Gail) Teixeira personally and we wrote the ministry in June or July last year seeking assistance to acquire a piece of land for the turf, but to date the Board is still to get a reply. When we spoke with the minister, she said she will try to see what she can do. We even suggested the land just at the back of the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall" Sills claimed.
Thompson told Stabroek Sport that once the GHBC gets the piece of land, his association will then have to raise US$60,000 and the FIH will come up with the remainder and the facility will become a reality. He further stated that in an effort to raise the US$60,000 the GHBC plans to promote two major fund raising activities as well as seek sponsorship from the business community.
Other plans for the new year include sending a female team to Trinidad and Tobago for a Goodwill series. Should this materialise, it will be the second consecutive year that the GHBC has done so.
A 21-member squad went to the Twin Island Republic last year, 10 years since any female team represented Guyana overseas.
The GHBC also plans to stage the GT&T international indoor tournament over the Easter weekend. This tournament was scheduled for November, but has been brought forward since most regional teams are engaged in other tournaments during the same period.
The association promises to get back into the schools as well as try to resuscitate the Malteenoes and GDF hockey teams. Coaches who completed the level one course a few months ago will be used in the schools project.
Looking back at last year, the GHBC organised four indoor tournaments - Carib, Footworks Plus, Flora Margarine and the GT&T - as well as three outdoor tournaments - the Farfan and Mendes first division, the John Fernandes second division and the NBIC One Day tournaments.
The GHBC also possibly created history when its General Secretary (Sills) attended the AGM of the FIH in Brussels last year.
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