By Travis Seymour | January 3, 2025
The Guyana Hockey Board (GHB) has celebrated a remarkable year for the national hockey teams, with success across regional and international competitions.
According to long-time GHB President, Phillip Fernandes, the determination, skill, and hard work of the players have enabled them to overcome challenges and excel, despite not having access to artificial playing surfaces.
Fernandes highlighted the team’s achievements, noting that the year began with strong performances and continued momentum, with the national teams achieving high rankings in regional competitions and making significant strides on the global stage.
The senior men’s team showcased their skill and commitment, earning accolades and recognition in major international events.
Fernandes also praised the Masters Hockey team, where players, despite their experience, delivered outstanding results against top hockey nations such as France.
The national women’s team capped off the year with a standout performance, further solidifying Guyana’s reputation in international hockey.
Fernandes emphasized that the team’s achievements were a result of their hard work and dedication, overachieving in competitions despite challenges.
However, the GHB President lamented the lack of a dedicated artificial surface for hockey in Guyana, which continues to put the nation’s teams at a disadvantage.
While hockey is typically played on artificial surfaces worldwide, Guyana’s teams must train on grass fields, which makes the transition to faster surfaces abroad more difficult.
The GHB hopes to address this issue to help the teams compete on equal footing with other nations.