GCC Elite, Old Fort Top Form start with wins in GHB Diamond Jubilee Cup

Jun 13, 2026 Sports

Kaieteur Sports – Following a brief delay, the Guyana Hockey Board’s (GHB) Diamond Jubilee Cup finally got underway on Thursday evening with a pair of exciting encounters in the Men’s and Women’s divisions at the National Stadium, Providence.

Played under the lights, the three-part Independence Outdoor tournament officially opened with a brief ceremony attended by Minister within the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, Steven Jacobs, and Assistant Director of Sport, Franklin Wilson.

GCC Elite, Old Fort Top Form start with wins in GHB Diamond Jubilee Cup

Minister Steven Jacobs attended the opening ceremony of the 2026 Independence Outdoor Hockey tournament. GHB President Philip Fernandes yesterday officially opened the tournament.

Delivering the feature address, Minister Jacobs highlighted the significance of the tournament as Guyana celebrates 60 years of Independence.

“We at the Ministry are pleased to be associated with this tournament,” Jacobs said. “It is our mandate to continue supporting the development of sport in Guyana. While this is the Diamond Jubilee Tournament, it is important that we reflect on what that truly means. As athletes, you should understand the significance of this milestone and what it represents for our country.”

GCC Elite storms Hikers 10-0 in opening encounter in Diamond Jubilee Cup.

The minister further encouraged participants to appreciate the sacrifices made by previous generations.

“We stand on the shoulders of people who were resilient and strong. Because of their efforts, we have the opportunity to compete freely and enjoy facilities such as this one. It is important that we recognize and appreciate that legacy,” he added.

GHB President Philip Fernandes also expressed gratitude to the Government of Guyana and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport for facilitating the event.

“We appreciate the opportunity to play here at this excellent facility, provided through the support of the Ministry of Sport. We are also grateful to Minister Steven Jacobs for joining us at this opening ceremony,” Fernandes stated.

Once the formalities concluded, attention shifted to the field where Old Fort Top Form defeated Saints 4-2 in the opening Men’s First Division contest.

Old Fort’s Captain Shaquan Favorite was his team’s main midfield threat.

After a scoreless opening quarter, Old Fort broke the deadlock through Nkosi Saul in the 20th minute before Shaquan Favorite doubled the advantage five minutes later to hand his side a comfortable 2-0 lead heading into halftime.

Saints responded shortly after the restart when Aaron Abraham pierced the Old Fort defence in the 28th minute to reduce the deficit. Both teams then engaged in a tightly contested third quarter, with neither side able to find another breakthrough.

However, Old Fort seized control in the final period as Yonnick Norton and Jael Gaskin added goals to extend the lead to 4-1. Saints managed a late consolation through Shakeem Fausette, but the comeback proved out of reach as Old Fort secured the 4-2 victory.

The Women’s fixture proved far more one-sided as GCC Elite dismantled Hikers 10-0 in a dominant display.

GCC set the tone early, racing to a 3-0 advantage by the end of the opening quarter. Abosaide Cadogan, Gabriella Xavier and Princessa Wilkie each recorded braces, while Rebecca Ferreira produced a clinical hat-trick with strikes in the 27th, 30th and 59th minutes.

Amariah Sahadeo also found the scoresheet as GCC completed a ruthless attacking performance to open their campaign with an emphatic victory.

Action continued yesterday and will run through Monday, June 15. Comprehensive coverage of the tournament will be provided by this publication throughout the competition.The Diamond Jubilee Cup is being staged with support from the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport.

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Diamond Jubilee Cup, GCC Elite, Guyana Hockey Board, Old Fort Top Form

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