Berandai Dadong (L) during the
Olympic Day celebration in
Temburong on Sunday. Picture:
BT/Ak Fauzi Pg Salleh
Hockey players in Temburong will soon have their own hockey turf once a proposed hockey pitch is built at the Batu Apoi Sports Complex in Temburong.
National coach Berandai Dadong told The Brunei Times during the celebration of the Olympic Day on Sunday that the construction is expected to start this year.
"We are replacing the carpet at the Hockey Stadium of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex in Berakas with a new one, and the old one will be used to build the hockey pitch here in Temburong," explained the national coach.
"It will be good for the hockey players in Temburong, especially for those students at the Sultan Hassan Bangar Secondary School as there are number of hockey players there,
"It will be good for them as they can train here in Temburong since it is very difficult for them to make the long journey to Bandar to train.
"We have a number of players from Temburong in the national team and they have the best stamina and endurance.
"Players from Bandar are technically better than them, but it is because they (Temburong players) do not have the place to train.
"Back in the 1990's, the majority of the players in the national team were from Temburong... But now we have only few players from the district.
"I hope with this new hockey pitch, it will help them to train and attract more people to play hockey in this district.
"This year is the first time that hockey is being included in the Olympic Day (celebrations) and we have had a very good respond from the public," he added.
Sapit Biru were crowned champions in the male category while Sungai Radang were second and Negalang third during Sunday's Olympic Day celebrations the first in the district.
Piasau-Piasau grabbed gold in the mixed category while Batu Apoi won silver and Sungai Tanit settled for bronze.
Earlier this month, Brunei Darussalam Hockey Association (BDHA) revealed their strategic plan in their preparations for the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games that the Sultanate will host in 2019.
However, this year will be a quiet one for the association following the hockey stadium renovation process.
