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Planet Field Hockey

By Michael DaSilva-

www.Stabroeknews.com

The 2001 executives of the Guyana Hockey Board of Control (GHBC) were returned en-bloc for the 2002 term when the Annual General Meeting was
held last week at the GCC pavilion last week.

Board president Phillip Fernandes in his 2001 report, stated that he is
satisfied with the efforts made and achievements accomplished for 2001.
Those re-elected are; Fernandes (president), Ronald Pinder and Brian
Asregado (vice-presidents), Gregory Sills (secretary), Debbie Archer
(assistant secretary/treasurer) and Ivor Thompson (treasurer).

In his report, Fernandes stated that the GHBC, at the beginning of the
year, devised a programme to revive the sport locally, with three main
objectives which were achieved with some degree of success.

Those objectives were promote interest in the sport among the country's
youths, revive women's hockey to a competitive level and endorse the
livelihood of the sport by making it as part of the curriculum within
the educational sector.

Junior tournaments in the form of indoor competitions were introduced
and the Board had no problem attracting young people to the sport.
Great strides were made in reviving women's hockey, which was at one
time even more vibrant than that of the men's and until recently all but ceased to exist.

A female squad was assembled, and represented Guyana in Trinidad and
Tobago at a Goodwill series. Coaches Dexter Wyles and Tony Solomon spent much time preparing the squad which improved with every game they played against Trinidad clubs.

With regards the re-introduction of hockey in schools, the GHBC has had
discussions with several schools that intend to include hockey in their
curriculum, and through a donation of 300 sticks from K&T Sports of the
United Kingdom, some schools were equipped with the sticks to start
their programme while the others were distributed to clubs.

Queen's College has already begun training under the supervision of
coach Trevor Wharton, while School of the Nations will begin their
programme shortly.

Local coaches also benefitted from an Olympic Solidarity course which
was organised by the Guyana Olympic Association and conducted by Shiaz
Virjee of Canada, Fernandes stated in his report.

Another accomplishment for the Board, was the revival of hockey grounds
- Police Sports Club, National Park and YMCA - around Georgetown.
Officials of the latter named ground are willing to make their facility
available.

With regards the acquisition of an artificial surface, Fernandes
explained that the Board has engaged both the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport and the FIH in discussions regarding the possible procurement of an artificial surface.
As a result the Minister has promised to assist in trying to locate a
suitable venue, stated Fernandes.

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