Hockey field to be ready by September

JAKARTA (JP): The hockey field under construction at the Senayan Sports Complex is expected to be completed by the end of August.

The Gelora Senayan Management Board director Saptodarsono told reporters yesterday that the construction was waiting the delivery of synthetic turf by American company Astro Turf.

"If the carpet arrives by mid-August, we can finish the construction by the end of this month," he said.

Soekamto, the board's deputy for facilities development, said the civil works were conducted from June 19 to July 31.

The asphalting work, which will have two layers, will take place from Aug. 1 to Aug. 10. The asphalt takes two weeks to dry.

"The process will be supervised by Astro Turf," Soekamto said.

The installation of the synthetic turf will take one week and is expected to start on Aug. 24.

"Then we only have to wait for the International Hockey Federation to test the field," he said.

Saptodarsono said the field may have a temporary bleacher for spectators, if there was not enough time to construct a permanent one.

The 19th SEA Games consortium, chaired by President Soeharto's son Bambang Trihatmodjo, provided Rp 1.2 billion (US$461,540) to build the field, excluding the bleacher and changing rooms.

"We'll discuss the budget with the consortium later," he said.

Saptodarsono accompanied the Asian Hockey Federation president Sultan Azlan Shah, secretary-general Dato Seri P. Alagendra and the Indonesian Hockey Association chairman Raj Kumar Singh during a visit to the field yesterday.

Alagendra, also deputy president of the Malaysian Hockey Federation, told reporters yesterday that the field will be finished in time.

"We must be optimistic that the field will be completed in time. We shouldn't be doubtful," he said.

The new field must have four changing rooms, instead of two as planned.

Alagendra said that a synthetic turf field means Indonesia can invite strong countries such as Pakistan, India, Germany and Poland, for friendly matches.

Sultan Azlan Shah, also president of the Asian Hockey Federation and the International Hockey Federation, said this would enable Indonesia to boost its hockey performance.

"If they have more experience, they can improve their performance at international events," he said.

Malaysia has 12 fields and will soon have two more, while India has 22. Other Asian countries -- South Korea, China and Hong Kong -- only have one each while Pakistan has two.

The Netherlands has 383 hockey fields. (yan)