10 teams expected to take part in state’s league

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Haidel Heli

Haidel Heli

KUCHING: About 10 teams are expected to participate in the inaugural Sarawak Hockey League (SHL) that will be held here next month.

To be organised by the Sarawak Ex-Hockey Players Association, pro-tem chairman Haidel Heli said they are expecting eight to 10 teams for the championship that will involve Sabah, Brunei and Sarawak.

Haidel said the competition will be held at two venues – the Sarawak Astroturf Hockey Stadium along Jalan Padungan and SMK Paku, Bau.

“We have not fixed the dates for the competition but it is most likely to be in August,” he said when met at the “Fun Hockey Under The Star” hockey programme at the Sarawak Astroturf Hockey Stadium recently.

More than 60 former state players displayed their skills in the programme organised by Sarawak Ex-Hockey Players Association.

It involved friendly games between the former players and was primarily aimed at getting all former players together to play hockey.

According to Haidel, several teams from Sabah, Brunei and Sarawak have indicated their interest to take part in the two-week competition.

“We are aiming to revive hockey in the state which is in the doldrums in recent years. We are also organising a women’s hockey carnival as a side event for the Sarawak Hockey League,” he added.

Sarawak Sukma XVIII women’s shadow hockey team, Gertaq, Miri and Brunei are among the teams expected for the carnival.

SHL offers RM3,000 prize money for the champions, RM1,500 for first runners-up, and RM1,000 for the third placing.

As for the women’s competition, the champions will receive RM1,000 while the second placing shall get RM500.

For further details, call Desmond Labung at 016-8678848.