Young Axtell picks up prize as Hungry Hamours face tough test in Oman
SCHOOLBOY hockey sensation George Axtell, who has been snapped up to play with the UK Lions hockey team, shone once more and picked up a prize as Bahrain’s Hungry Hamours took on the might of the Gulf region.
Axtell, 14, a pupil at St Christopher’s School was awarded as the Most Promising Young Hockey Player of the Gulf Hockey Fiesta 2016 Starcare Cup staged last weekend in Oman.
The competition featured seven visiting international teams and lining up with the kingdom’s representatives were the Qatar Wanderers, Kuwait Expats, Saudi Al-Arab, the Naqi Strikers also from Saudi Arabia, Dubai Hockey Club and their local rivals King Khan Hockey Club-Dubai, facing the might of Muscat’s Oman National Team (Veterans), Team Coorg, Muscat Foxes, Pak Falcons and hosts United Thalassery Sports Club.
Hungry Hamours, the only team to feature a mix-gender team which included Axtell’s mum, Sara, also featured Justin Xantho (C), Kevin D’Cunha (VC), Jude D’Souza, Jason D’Souza, Ellen Leon, Mohammed Fikry, Rubert Castellino, Anson Sequeira and Renzo D’Cunha.
Although the Hungry Hamours, an amateur multi-cultural hockey club established in 2006 and sponsored on the trip by The Grub Shack and Kudos Travel, failed to secure any victories at the event they were ‘delighted’ that young Axtell’s performances were acknowledged.
The players say they remain committed to the vision of developing youth and ladies hockey teams in Bahrain.