Fernandes meets with Executive to chart way forward

Jan 27, 2009 Sports

-coaches workshop, junior development, international tours top

agenda

Phillip Fernandes

By Rawle Welch
Newly-installed President of the Guyana Hockey Board (GHB) Phillip Fernandes in keeping with his promise to be more consistent and open with the media about the entity’s plans and projections for the sport convened his first meeting with the executive last Saturday.
The Meeting called to chart the way forward and devise programmes for the year saw a number of items being discussed.
Among the topics that were examined included proposed tours, local competitions, junior development and selection of national coaches.
Junior development –
Fernandes stated that currently coaches are needed so an invitation was extended to those from all the clubs to attend a meeting at the GCC this Saturday from 14:00hrs.
He added that from the conference they hope to run an entry level workshop for those persons to create a crop of coaches that can begin work in the schools.
“Clubs are going to be advised to begin their discussions with schools to get their programmes moving rather than await the workshop,” he said.
While no date has been set as yet, the GHB is hoping to have the workshop sometime in February.
Local season –
The President reported that the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall will be unavailable until May, while efforts to commence the outdoor season will have to await improvements in the weather.
Additionally, a Competitions Committee has been appointed and they have been tasked with organising the details of a one-day tournament which will be held as soon as the inclement weather subsides.
Following the one-day season opener, the release added that the GHB is likely to begin the First and Second Division Men’s and Women’s Leagues.
Diamond Mineral Water International Indoor Competition –
The Diamond Mineral Water Festival Committee will meet on Saturday shortly before the start of the Meeting with the club coaches to discuss last year’s tournament and implement plans for this year’s competition.
This engagement will be held from 1300hrs.
Fernandes said that the tournament has great potential, but to ensure continued growth, the GHB need to come up with new and exciting strategies to attract teams to these shores.
“I expect the format to change this year and perhaps include more recreational activities to break up the rigorous hockey schedule.”
International competitions –
“Trinidad and Tobago has invited us to send male and female under-18 teams to an Easter hockey festival for juniors. These players would be eligible for the next under-21 Pan Am Tournament and so this is in preparation for that.
We would like to consider this opportunity and so we have sent enquiries around to all clubs to provide us with the names of all eligible players so we can determine the size of our pool.”
Jamaica is hosting the second Caribbean Cup in Kingston from June 22-29.
Following the meeting of coaches, a determination will be made with respect to who will coach the men’s and women’s national squads, while all eligible senior players will be called to a gathering to discuss a fund-raising drive and training program.
Venezuela has signalled its intention of hosting the first Simon Bolivar International Hockey Cup in October/November and would like to invite both men’s and women’s national teams from Guyana.
This will be follow-on from the Jamaica effort providing they are successful.
Fernandes disclosed that the ultimate goal is to qualify for the CAC Games which will be held in Puerto Rico in July 2010.

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