Bounty Supermarket take reins of National Indoor Hockey Championships
The annual National Indoor Hockey Championships return to the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall with a new face of Bounty Supermarket this year. The supermarket chain, which has been a keen supporter of the development of young people and the community, has, for the first time, extended its efforts into hockey as an extension of these efforts.
There is much to expect in the Bounty Supermarket National Championships
The competition commenced on Tuesday, 25th October, from 17:00hrs, and features four divisions: being men’s first division, men’s second division, ladies, and veterans (over-35).
In the competitive men’s division, PEPSI Hikers, the most successful team, will look to avenge their upset during the recent Lucozade Indoor Championships. Experienced national captain Robert France leads this line-up with the support of top-calibre midfielder Jamarj Assanah, who has been one of the country’s top players over the past five years.
Old Fort brings to the tournament their tremendous pace and skill, and a youthful enthusiasm primarily from their strong junior contingent who have stepped up to the senior ranks. Old Fort recently won the Sunshine Snacks Under-20 Indoor Championships, and the core of the team will now be joined by veterans Chris Low and Aderemi Simon to be strengthened for senior competition.
GCC’s all round stalwart Kareem McKenzie and the skilful Sargeant brothers, Marc and Meshach, form the core of their team, while the Garnett clan and the skilful midfielder Shakeem Fausette round out the table for Saints.
The ladies’ competition finds a dominant GBTI GCC Tigers as comfortable favourites, their having not lost in this competition since 2018. Captain Gabriella Xavier and Makeda Harding will have good support from Madison Fernandes, Sarah Klautky and Kirsten Gomes for the Tigers’ powerful line-up, which will be a well-balanced and difficult team to beat.
The Woodpecker Hikers, having been the last team to defeat the Tigers, will certainly be looking to repeat this feat, and have been improving the quality of their game in recent times. Maria Munroe and Marisha Fernandes form the cornerstone of this challenge.
Saints boasts the presence of recent junior MVP Claysa Bobb, along with the feisty Tekeisha DeLeon. What always makes this team a threat is the structured approach they bring to the game, instilled by national coach Robert Fernandes.
Old Fort’s Julia Gouveia and Carolyne Deane lead the reds, while the second GCC lineup, the GCC Spice, may exhibit the strongest attack of all teams through the duo of Abosaide Cadogan and Sonia Jardine.
The competition will also feature a men’s second division and a veterans division featuring players over the age of 35.
The competition runs all week, with the finals set for Sunday evening, October 30, from 16:00hrs.
