Latest update February 6th, 2025 7:27 AM
DMW Hockey Festival…Guyanese clubs sweep tournament
The 14th Diamond Mineral Water (DMW) International Hockey Festival, which concluded last evening at the Cliff Anderson Sport Hall (CASH) on Homestretch Avenue, proved to be a special edition as local fans witnessed Old Fort, GBTI GCC and Pepsi Hikers win the veteran, women’s and men’s division respectively.
Hikers, Old Fort, and GBTI GCC all pose for a photo following their triumph last night in the men’s open, over-35 and women’s open division respectively in the DMW Hockey Festival.
As expected, the men’s final was a replay of last year’s fixture between Hikers and Queen’s Park Cricket Club (QPCC) men’s hockey team of the twin island republic of Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) who were defending their title.
Hikers led 4-2 at the half and seem to be on track for an easy victory but two late goals in the final two minutes of play by Jordan Vieira and Jerazeno Belle, who scored another hat-trick in the game, sent the match into penalties.
Hikers’ custodian Jason Hoyte saved both of QPCC’s attempts in the shootout and Aroydy Branford, Jamarj Assanah and Rayon Branford made no mistake in slotting home each of their penalties to give Hikers’ sweet revenge on their regional rivals who had usurped them in 2017.
In the women’s final, GBTI GCC successfully defended their title after overcoming the strong opposition of T&T’s Shandy Carib Magnolia in the semifinal round before edging Ventures hockey club 3-2 in the final. On the score sheet for GCC in the final were their more consistent strikers of the ball of recent in Skipper Sonia Jardine, Marzana Fiedtkou and Gabriella Xavier with one goal each.
QPCC and their prolific forward Jerazeno Bell couldn’t stop the charge of the Old Old Fort team that clinched the Over-35 division title with a nervy 4-3 victory.
Old Fort had four different scorers in the match with Dwight Sullivan, Askofu Simon and John Abrahams each banging in a field goal, while Solomon Eccles penalty corner in the 19th minute proved to be the divisive goal.
Head of the Guyana Hockey Board (GHB), Philip Fernandes, posited that without our visitors, there won’t be any DMW Hockey Festival and so we are thankful to see their participation.
“I think I speak for everyone when I say this year’s competition was fantastic, one of our best yet and I must say thanks to everyone including the sponsors, hard-working officials and volunteers that helped to make this tournament such a success.”
The individual accolades are as follows:
Diamond Water Open men’s division
Despite a late charge by Ventures (on the attack) GBTI GCC held their nerve to win the women’s open final 3-2.
Most Goals – Aroydy Branford (13) (Hikers)
Best goalkeeper -Jason Hoyte (Hikers)
MVP – Jamarj Assanah (Hikers)
ExxonMobil Open women’s division
Most Goals – Arielle Williams (12 goals, Ventures)
Best goalkeeper – Briawna Gordon (GCC)
MVP – Carina Moller (GCC)
Stag Beer Over-35 (veteran) division
Most Goals- Jerazeno Bell (16) (QPCC)
Best goalkeeper -Ron Alexander (Old Fort)
MVP – Dwayne Quan Chan (Old Fort)
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