The 19th edition of the GTT National Indoor Hockey Championships return to the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall beginning this evening with an exciting week of hockey scheduled.
In the competitive Men’s division, the PEPSI Hikers will look to defend their title and maintain their position as the most successful Men’s first division team in the competition’s existence.
The team will be led once again by national captain Robert France, who has been one of the country’s most prolific strikers over the past decade. The core of this exciting team is now in the prime of their careers and will be a difficult side to beat.
Old Fort has been the most rapidly improving team in this division with the introduction of new exciting junior players like Omar Hopkinson and Nandlall Persaud added to stable veterans Aderemi ‘Dove’ Simon and Jason DeSantos. GCC is likely to see some of their junior stars breaking through the ranks with Kareem McKenzie and Meshach Sargeant being among the most skilful and entertaining players on show.
National Goalkeeper Medroy Scotland will be a key to key the Bourda side in contention. Saints will be the youngest team in the tournament but have been improving with each outing. Their youthful energy and tactical understanding, under the tutelage of national coach Robert Fernandes, will be heavy factors int heir favour. The Garnett family form the cornerstone of this team along with skilful midfielders Shakeem Fausette and Edmund Chinian.
The Ladies competition is set to be a thrilling affair, as the Hikers wrested the trophy from the GBTI GCC Tigers in 2018 after the latter had held onto it for nine years. The GBTI GCC Tigers are sure to be anxious to reverse that result in 2019. Nationals Marzana Fiedtkou, Gabriella Xavier and Trisha Woodroffe form a powerful anchor for this team.
The defending champion Hikers also fields a team littered with international players in powerful Marisha Fernandes in defence and Latacia Chung and Nicole Eastman up front.
Saints emerge from a successful second division competition which surely gives them great confidence going into this Ladies competition. Tekeisha Deleon has been their star over the past couple of years while young speedsters Charlia Webb and Claysia Bobb will pose a difficult challenge for opposing defences. GBTI GCC Spice and the Spartans round off the women’s division.
The competition will also feature a men’s second division and a Veterans division featuring players over the age of 35.
The opening night will stage a feature clash between Bounty GCC and YMCA Old Fort in the Men’s first division. Top contenders for the Women’s trophy GBTI GCC Tigers take on their club counterparts GBTI GCC Spice. Defending Vets champs Vintage GCC will meet Antonio’s Hickers while the opening match of the evening sees a second division matchup between the Saints Sensations and YMC Old Fort Hard Ball.
The competition runs all week with the finals set for Sunday evening from 1600h.
