Latest update January 30th, 2025 6:10 AM
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Flora GCC ladies make semis at Banks Hockey Festival
– Reiterates call for artificial turf
Flora GCC Ladies team along with Head Coach Phillip Fernandes (extreme right) pose for a photo op at the Annual Banks Hockey Festival in Barbados.
Local powerhouses Flora GCC, who have been enjoying a dominant run in women’s competition locally for the past two years, extended that good run by making it to the semi-finals on their debut international tour to the Annual Banks Hockey Festival which was held in Barbados from August 16-23.
Over the years, several Guyanese teams have tried their luck in competition at the Festival which usually draws teams from Europe and North America in addition to those of the Caribbean.
The GCC men, who also competed in this year’s competition, came closest to victory in 1995 when they narrowly lost by a 1-0 margin in the men’s final.
Ten teams contested this year’s ladies competition, the Flora GCC ladies were placed in Pool B along with Bajans Fuh Real, UWI, All Stars and Deacons, all of Barbados and Big Apple Flickers of the USA.
The local girls dominated their matches against All Stars (6-0), UWI (1-0) and Bajans Fuh Real (3-2), drew their clash with Deacons (0-0) and lost their only pool match to the Big Apple Flickers (0-2).
This set them up for a semi-final clash with 4-time winner ABC who easily won Pool A with an unbeaten run.
ABC proved too difficult for the Flora GCC ladies as they conceded an early goal and could not recover. Despite a heroic performance in goal by national goalkeeper Alysa Xavier, ABC would be rewarded with a second and final goal, before the match ended at 2-0 in their favour.
Coach of the GCC ladies, Philip Fernandes, said that he was pleased with the performance of his ladies.
“While it is not a reason to lose, I am proud of this achievement because it was the team’s very first outdoor hockey competition and their semi-final opposition boasted several ladies who play in the United Kingdom” Fernandes said.
Meanwhile, the GCC men playing in a 13-team men’s competition won their three pool matches against DEBE of Trinidad (8-0), Bologna of Italy (2-1) and Dominion of Barbados (2-1), drew with All Stars and Do Badd Crew (1-1 each) and lost to eventual festival winners DSYDE of Barbados (2-0).
Despite only losing one match, the Bourda boys were edged out of the semi-final by one point due to their two drawn matches.
“I think our men were the best team in the competition on grass” Coach Fernandes said “Our only loss came on the turf where our players needed more time to reacquaint themselves with the pace of the ball as well as presenting the opportunity for the new players to familiarise themselves with the surface. We did, however, raise our level of play on the international stage and were it not for a few blown chances could have easily made the semis and possibly won the tournament.”
Fernandes disclosed that the Banks Festival is now in its 25th year and remains the only consistent outdoor tournament in the region for clubs. He, however, expressed doubt that the teams will be able to return next year to try and improve their performances due to the high cost to travel and stay in Barbados for a full week.
Fernandes added that he is hopeful that one day an artificial pitch can be installed here in Guyana so that quality outdoor tournaments for overseas teams could be held.
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