Guyana Hockey Board (GHB) President Phillip Fernandes believes that youth involvement in the sport is crucial to its development.
Speaking on initiatives that have helped to introduce the sport to a younger audience, Fernandes noted that their recently-concluded Smalta Under-14 competition has seen a considerable turnout from interested youths with “good talent and good quality”. He explained that this tournament, and others similar to it, impacted the sport positively by popularising it.
GHB President Phillip Fernandes
“It’s really a good vehicle to spread the game and make the game a bit more popular, especially in the junior division,” he said.
Fernandes went on to state that the junior competitions tend to influence the quality of the senior teams in the long run. “We’ve found over the years that whenever we have a solid junior division, we then get good hockey in the future,” he explained.
Additionally, Fernandes expressed hope that the Board would be able to continue hosting competitions at the junior level in order to develop skills and groom young potential players for the senior division. He also disclosed that there would be an indoor Under-19 competition over the coming weekend. The competition will be open to male and female teams.
