ONE STEP CLOSER.
That’s the state of the game for the restoration of the Wildey Hockey AstroTurf with news that the new surface is in the Bridgetown Port awaiting clearance.
This has been confirmed by the president of the Barbados Hockey Federation, David Rouse. He could not say when it would be cleared but he hoped it would be soon.
The new turf, acquired with assistance from the Pan American Sports Organisation and the Barbados Olympic Association, is costing about $200 000.
It was sourced in Argentina, and two experts will be here to supervise the laying of the sand-based turf. They are not on the island as yet but will arrive once the turf is cleared by Customs.
It is understood that an approach will be made to the Ministry of Finance to have the duties waived on the turf.
The area surrounding the hockey facility has already been cleared for the remedial work to begin.
Rouse said it should take around three weeks to complete the work.
It is almost five years since the facility has not been used for hockey activity and the federation has been forced to modify its competitions to seven-a -side using the turf at the University Of The West Indies at Cave Hill.
A new five-a-side tournament using a draft system to select teams will soon begin.
The unavailability of the Wildey surface has had a negative impact of the annual Hockey Festival, with a massive decline in the number of foreign teams.
This is likely to be reversed for next year’s festival, with teams already showing renewed interest because of the pending laying of the new surface. (AT)
