12th Diamond Mineral Water Hockey Festival set for November
BY ROMARIO SAMAROO
Coming off the hype of the just concluded Lucozade Indoor Hockey league at the National Gymnasium, the action moves on with the Diamond Mineral Water Indoor Hockey Festival which will be hosted at the same venue from November 24-27.
President of the Guyana Hockey Board, Philip Fernandes noted that the Diamond Mineral Water festival is a household name across the region and is one of the most recognized tournaments when it comes to indoor hockey, pointing out that it attracts more teams than any other Caribbean tournament.
The tournament will see three divisions; Male, Female and Over-35 competing for US$7,500 in prize money and bragging rights while entrance fees for teams are US$400 for male and female and US$200 for the Over-35 teams.
Speaking with Guyana Times Sport, Fernandes has stated that this is one of the most integral events on the hockey calendar.
Flashback! Hikers celebrate the Diamond Mineral Water Festival title with a 5-0 victory over Old Fort in 2014
“This is one of the main events on our calendar for the year because it attracts international teams from across the world and even regional clubs. In the past the tournament has attracted teams from Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, USA, Canada and a few from Jamaica,” the Hockey Board President stated.
Fernandes went on to say that because of the tournament being an Indoor tournament it is likely more teams will turn out but it is not possible for the outdoor tournament because Guyana does not have an official outdoor hockey field and the National Gymnasium is similar to an indoor field.
To date, teams from Canada and USA have already indicated their participation and it is likely teams from Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados will come on board soon.
Additionally, Fernandes highlighted that what the Guyana Hockey Board and Lucozade did with the recent indoor league will go a long way in preparing teams for the Diamond Mineral Water Hockey Festival.
“We have not had a tournament with such frequent games as the league and we expect the teams from Guyana to go a far way heading in to the festival because of that,” Fernandes stated.
In the 11th edition of the festival, Hikers men and the GCC ladies were crowned champions having outplayed over 14 teams.
