Haidel (second left) posing with the Gertaq HC team which will be competing in the SHL from Aug 1-6.
KUCHING: Nine teams are set for action in the inaugural Sarawak Hockey League (SHL) in Kuching from August 1-6.
The competition organised by the Sarawak Ex-Hockey Players Association will be held at the Sarawak State Astroturf Hockey Stadium along Jalan Padungan and the hockey field at SMK Paku, Bau.
Association pro-tem chairman Haidel Heli said the teams are Gertaq HC, Warrior HC, Sukma Shadow Team, Sikh’s HC, Kuching Thunder Cat HC, Paku HC, SMK Serian, IPGBL and SMK Agama Matang.
They are divided into two groups to play the league format.
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.
Haidel said 10 teams will be competing in the 9-a-side Women’s Hockey Carnival from August 1-3.
Teams involved are Gertaq HC, Warrior HC, Sukma Shadow Team, SMK Bako, SMK Sri Matang, Brunei HA, SMK Serian, IPGBL, SMK Balai Ringin and SMK Agama Matang.
“We have accepted the entry from our neighbour Brunei which shall make the competition more stiff as Brunei are expected to send their best players,” said Haidel.
He said the main objective of organising the Sarawak Hockey League and the 9-a-side Women’s Hockey Carnival was to revive hockey in the state.
According to him, both tournaments will provide a platform for Sarawak to unearth young talents who will be groomed to represent the state in future competitions as well as part of the preparations for the challenge in Sukma XVIII hosted by Sarawak next year.
For enquiries on the above tournaments, contact Sarawak Ex-Hockey Players Association protem secretary Desmond Labong at 016-8678848.