The Ciego de Ávila men's hockey team retained the national champion crown at stake where it beat its counterpart from Santiago de Cuba in the final of the National Championship of this discipline that took place on the synthetic pitch in Ciego de Ávila, Cuba, on February 25, 2023. Photo: Osvaldo Gutiérrez/ ACN. 

This Saturday, the Ciego de Ávila men's field hockey team won its fifteenth crown by defeating its counterpart from Santiago de Cuba four goals to one in the final of the discipline's National Championship.

The goals of this victory, the seventh in a row,

For the people from Santiago, the target was scored by Marcos Martínez in the 15th minute of play.

Consuegra and Neninger declared to the local press that they had prepared to contribute to the team and they did so.

They also stated

The third place in the joust was secured by the Havana team, beating Las Tunas three goals to one, which had to settle for fourth place.

The fifth place was discussed between Camagüey and Villa Clara, a stubbornness that was defined in penalties, since both teams ended the regulation time tied with a goal.

On three occasions the people of Camagüey scored, while

, for which they were in the last seat of the joust.

The honor roll was made up of Richard Somonte from Ciego de Avila as the most outstanding player, and Carlos Manuel Consuegra, leading scorer with 10;

and Miguel Silva from Santiago was the best goalkeeper.

Heriberto Sarduy Gómez (El Yuyo), manager of the winning team, said that before the game he spoke with the athletes to remind them that they should enjoy the game because the preparation had been excellent and the goals were going to come out.

The future of hockey in the province is assured

, as the young figures have shown that there is potential and that is what coaches and teachers are focusing on, said El Yuyo, who is the top scorer in this sport in the country.

José Ángel Gallo Fonseca, director of the Santiago de Cuba team, stated that this second place is the best result of the discipline in his province, since they had never come to argue in a final.

Going to the fight for gold against the Cuban champions strengthens us, so we are leaving very happy, said Gallo Fonseca.

After a little more than five years of waiting, due to repeated breaches in the construction of the synthetic terrain, this sport, the most successful in the province, can finally exploit this field that measures 92 meters long by 55 meters wide and is the second that hockey has in Cuba, since the other is located in Santiago de Las Vegas, in Havana.

The Ciego de Ávila men's hockey team retained the national champion crown at stake where it beat its counterpart from Santiago de Cuba in the final of the National Championship of this discipline that took place on the synthetic pitch in Ciego de Ávila, Cuba, on February 25, 2023. Osvaldo Gutiérrez/ ACN

Carlos Manuel Consuegra, leading scorer and player of the Ciego de Ávila men's hockey team, who retained the national champion crown at stake where he beat his similar from Santiago de Cuba in the final of the National Championship of this discipline that took place on the field Ciego de Ávila, Cuba, on February 25, 2023. PHOTO: Osvaldo Gutiérrez/ ACN

Carlos Manuel Consuegra, leading scorer and player of the Ciego de Ávila men's hockey team, who retained the national champion crown at stake where he beat his similar from Santiago de Cuba in the final of the National Championship of this discipline that took place on the field Ciego de Ávila, Cuba, on February 25, 2023. ACN PHOTO: Osvaldo Gutiérrez/Acn

(With information from ACN)