Latest update November 26th, 2024 1:00 AM
New look Hikers Ladies looking to gain experience
– Old Fort fancy chances in Veterans, First Division
Maria Munroe
Dexter Wyles
By Rawle Welch
With four of their most influential and experienced players out of the tournament due to injuries and personal development, Hikers ladies still harbour thoughts of doing well at this year’s Diamond Mineral Water International Indoor Hockey Festival which starts tomorrow, at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
The club has been going through a transformation phase over the past year, losing a couple of key members due to overseas commitments which has really affected their performance at the local level for sometime.
Once regarded as the best female team locally, Hikers have struggled over the past two seasons to earn a title and even though they are not favoured to take home the top accolade at this year’s event former Captain Maria Munroe in an interview with Kaieteur Sport yesterday said that the young brigade is eagerly looking forward to the experience of playing at the international level.
“It will be a tough road for them and presently the aim is not to win as much as gaining that experience at this level, especially since many of them either would not have played previously in such a tournament or have relatively little familiarity of the international scene,” Munroe stated.
The team will be missing the influence of players such as Munroe, prolific goal-scorer Cora Towler, Amanda Garnette and Wendy Boodhoo and the only two left who’ve played at the international level are Marisha Rodrigues and Avonda James, who will serve as Captain.
According to Munroe, they are quite aware of the strength of the team so to expect the current crop to win the tournament might be asking too much, especially against quality teams such as GCC and Malvern.
She, however, did concede that they are an enthusiastic bunch and all of them want to go out there and win so with that positive attitude all things are possible.
Some of the other players expected in the line-up are Vashema Bourne, Macaela Harding, Makini Harry, who will be making a return to competition, Alana McMullock and new goalkeeper Janella Webster.
Meanwhile, Old Fort Coach / Player Dexter Wyles told this newspaper that their veteran and first division units stand a strong chance of carting off the top prizes.
Wyles, who has been at the helm of that department for sometime, feels that with the acquisition of a few overseas-based players, their prospects have been strengthened.
“We have been boosted by the arrival of the inspirational Jonathan Roberts, former national goalkeeper Tony Cole and Trinidad and Tobago national player Nicholas Wren,” Wyles informed.
In the veterans’ category, Wyles disclosed that former national goalkeeper Audwin Graham is expected back from Canada, while players such as himself, Gavin Hope, Wayne St. Jules, Ivor Thompson and Robert Hussein are all still very active on the local scene.
He added that after a slow start to the sessions, the whole nature of the tournament has caused an intensification of training and he rated his teams’ chances of success as high.
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