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Dragons to spit fire at International Hockey Festival
-club has backing of sponsors, wants to earn respect
Flashback: Western Dragons display championship honours after winning the GT&T sponsored tournament this year.
By Edison Jefford
An underdog usually has nothing to lose but that does not mean that their aspiration and ambition can be questioned because they are usually hungrier than known performers, especially when the context is international and professional sport.
It is against that background that Western Dragons will enter this year’s Diamond Mineral Water International Hockey Festival, which officially starts tomorrow at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall with a prestigious and prominent presence.
Western Dragons have managed to secure a place as the best Second Division hockey club in the country, but the management of the Dragons wants more than just Division II status-they want to literally spit fire at the First Division level.
“We have a stable team and we are hungry enough to make an impact on this tournament. We’re practicing consistently on the Uitvlugt Secondary School tarmac and we believe we can make an impression,” Club Secretary, Keith Sampson said.
The official was speaking briefly to Kaieteur Sport in a recent interview where it became evident that his ultimate resolve was clear-he wanted to definitely communicate that the Dragons will be a force to reckon with in the international event.
“We are coming out of the shadows. This is our only First Division tournament for the year and we know that we can make an impact as an upcoming First Division team. There is nothing else for us to prove at the Second Division level,” he said.
Sampson revealed that his club has become even stronger with the support of Two Brothers and A. Forrester Lumber Yard for this tournament. He indicated that the two corporate giants will be approached for permanent sponsorship of the club.
“We want to prove that we are not a walkover and to do that we have to match the other clubs in every aspect, including corporate support. We are looking to establish ourselves as a definite and major contender for the top prize,” Sampson continued.
He noted that while he acknowledges the limitations of the club with no prior exposure to the top reigns of competition, they are not ruling out some upsets. “We’re not aiming to win outright but that’s not out of our sight,” he purposefully informed.
For Western Dragons, participation in perhaps the most prestigious hockey contest in the country means more than just competition-it is a way of publicising the club and inviting support from an area of Guyana not known for prominent hockey.
“People don’t respect us as they should and we want to earn that respect. The odds are against us but we want to make our sponsors and supporters in West Demerara proud. We know that we are capable of accomplishing those goals,” Sampson held.
Teams and players alike have already begun their arrival for the Diamond Mineral Water-backed International Hockey Festival in a way that could obscure the maroon-clad Dragons, but that is to be seen, however, at the least from the Dragons’ eyes.
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