EuroHockey IV Champions
Posted by on 6 August 2017
EuroHockey Champions
Our Gibraltar National Men’s Hockey Team has won the EuroHockey Championship IV, held in Lipovci, Slovenia. After playing a total of four games, winning all of these matches the squad claimed the top spot officially on Saturday 5th August after they beat Cyprus 12-0.
In all the squad faced some tough opposition with the match against Hungary biggest challenge of the event. Eventually beating the Hungarians by a won of 5 – 2. The campaign started off by beating the hosts Slovenia by 7 goals to 2, a sign of things to come! The squad utilised their recovery time by ensuring they relaxed, rested and had any muscular pains dealt with. On their way to become champions the squad also played Finland where they comfortably won by 8 goals to 1.
Ian Rodriguez who was recognised as the best player of the competition, was also the top goal scorer together with Julian Lopez (6). In all Gibraltar had 7 players in the top 10 of the top goal scorers table. These also included Carl Ramagge (4), Kayron Stagno (4), Gabriel Benatar (3), Giles Carisola (3) and Karl Lima (3). This accumulated to the 32 goals the team scored over the competition, second place Slovenia managing only 14, some distance apart.
Head Coach, Christian Zammit, said that they prepared well for the event, with the hard work paying off. He added "I am proud of what we have achieved, and in the manner we have achieved it. All 18 players deserve full credit for what has been a fantastic tournament".
Team captain and Gibraltar Hockey's President praised his team for their hard efforts, commitment, determination and spirit throughout the championships.
The squad would like to thank Masbro Insurance for being the official shirt sponsor for their 2017 EuroHockey campaign in Slovenia. Also many of the players sought individual player sponsorship, without your kind donations it would not have been possible to achieve GOLD. Thank you to everyone who has made the EuroHockey Championships IV a possibility.
Images courtesy of Monique Benatar and David Devincenzi-Clemens.
