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GT&T/GHB Caribbean Kids Hockey Festival…Strong contingent of junior hockey players from Barbados arrive
A strong contingent of junior hockey players from one of Barbados’ prestigious schools Combermere, which is also referred to as the ‘University of Waterford’, arrived in Guyana yesterday afternoon to participate in the GT&T/Guyana Hockey Board Caribbean Kids Festival.
The visiting Combermere hockey players take a photo op with GT&T’s Sales, Marketing & Public Relations Director Roma Narayan Singh (centre sitting), PRO Alison Parker (right), former Head of the Barbados Defence Force Colonel Deighton Maynard (4th from right) and other senior officials yesterday.
The touring squad, which is comprised of boys and girls predominantly between the ages of 14-15 years, will engage teams from host Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago in both the indoor and outdoor formats of the sport.
Yesterday, shortly after arrival, the touring party met with GT&T’s representatives including Sales, Marketing & Public Relations Director Roma Narayan Singh and Public Relations Officer Alison Parker in the Canteen, at the Company’s Head Office on Hadfield Street.
Kaieteur Sport took the opportunity to get brief remarks from senior officials of the Party in relation to the general purpose of the tour.
Manager Hallam Gittens in his remarks said the school has a rich history of involvement in the sport which according to him dates back over 65 years during which time it has been usual for students to go on tours and participate in competition, giving as examples recent tours to England and Argentina.
He added that senior officials usually “put their heads together” to decide which destination they would like the kids to experience and this time around they chose to come and familiarise themselves with Guyana’s culture and diversity whilst playing hockey.
Responding to the question of how popular the sport is back home, Gittens, who admitted that he has never been directly involved in hockey, said as far as he knows the game is very big in Barbados and well organised with past players holding the view that they have a treasured sense of responsibility to give back to the game.
He stated that the young players also see it from a holistic developmental aspect and an important step in fostering personal maturity and camaraderie within the team.
He, however, admitted that the group of players are relatively new and are basically eager for the experience.
Deputy Headmistress June Browne, who is also part of the team and someone who played the game previously, said the tour is always anticipated because every time the children tour they usually return stronger, especially in team spirit and camaraderie.
She said the sport is holding its own back on the island and even endorsed the point made by Gittens of former players who feel a sense of responsibility to give back even after leaving school.
Cher King, whose has the responsibility of being the Head Coach is a former national Captain and student of the institution and has a wealth of experience playing at the highest level.
King is a recipient of a scholarship to University of Massachusetts in the USA where she majored in Environmental Science has been coaching at the school for the past six years and expressed happiness of being associated with the school and players.
“I’m taking over cognizant of the strong history of the school’s involvement in hockey which dates back as far as 1948 and I know that being at the helm is a huge responsibility, but it is a challenge I’m willing to undertake.”
Perhaps, the most influential individual in the visiting contingent is former Head of the Barbados Defence Force Colonel Deighton Maynard.
Maynard, who is also involved in Education, disclosed that the visit is not the first for him, having played the sport with the likes of former Guyana national players Cecil ‘Skip’ Roberts and Chris Fernandes.
The Festival is set to start tomorrow with the outdoor segment, at the GCC ground.
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