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Large turnout signals bright future
The large turnout of junior hockey players who participated in the Hikers organised Junior Hockey Tournament is clear evidence that the sport seems destined for a bright future.
Part of the large group of participants at this year’s Hikers Hockey Club organised Junior Tournament which was played at the National Gymnasium.
The support of senior players, who lent their expertise in the coaching department, parents and fans, all combined to make the event a huge success which must have caught the eye of the Executive of the Guyana Hockey Board (GHB).
Over sixty players between the ages of 11-21 years drawn from schools that were adopted by clubs to benefit from coaching and those just out of school battled in five categories over two days, at the National Gymnasium.
Hikers, one of the clubs that lead in the development of junior players was hosting the tournament for the second year running, but this year saw a much larger turnout, a testimony to the Board’s decision to mandate clubs to get back into the schools as part of its long term Development Programme.
The youngsters displayed an abundance of skill and even showed a surprising amount of knowledge for the sport which should make it easier for coaches to work with them.
They were very receptive to the strategies and team work needed to ensure their team’s success and President of the Board Philip Fernandes, who witnessed the proceedings must be pleasantly satisfied with the juniors display.
It was a good start to the season for the sport and one could only hope that the local governing body as part of its 2011 programme of activities have follow-up tournaments to add to the one that was held last weekend.
The task now for the GHB should be to continue along the path to ensure that the majority of those players who participated in the two-day activity are not lost to another sport due to a lack of programmes to keep them engaged.
Hockey is not classified as one of the mainstream sports in Guyana, but the important thing is that the Body possesses the organisational skills to place it higher on the local agenda.
Speaking to some persons who attended the tournament, most of them said that they were impressed with the parental involvement which they referred to as perhaps the most essential element that will determine whether most of the youngsters stay or gravitate to other disciplines.
The activity was inspiring, but it will now require a long term vision to sustain the growth and interest that was witnessed on Saturday and Sunday and the responsibility rest squarely on the shoulders of the GHB and the clubs.
My guess as an insider is that the encouraging start to the year’s calendar will not be allowed to go to waste. Kudos Hikers.
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