HOCKEY

JOHOR BAHARU: The Junior World Cup hockey scheduled for June next year will go ahead in Johor Baharu, as one of the two co-hosts alongside Singapore.

Johor Hockey Association president Tunku Majid Sultan Iskandar said there was no question of Johor Baharu pulling out as host over the uncertainty of it not having two match venues as required by the world governing body, the International Hockey Federation.

“The Menteri Besar (Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman) has told the Johor State Assembly that the State Government is in the midst of finding the funding for the construction of a new Astro turf stadium in the city.

“We have met him (MB) a few months back and identified the location and also the cost, estimated at RM25 million. But it may cost more now.

“Infact, we at the JHA, have also come up with the drawing plans and if the go ahead is given now, the stadium can be ready in time,” said Tunku Majid who is also the deputy president of the Malaysian Hockey Federation.

The proposed stadium, according to him, can accommodate 5,000 people with two pitches side by side.  “We are not ambitious. We do not want to build a massive structure and in the end we can not fill it up,” said Tunku Majid.

“But in any case if the proposed stadium does not get the green light, then there is an alternative. “We can use the present Johor Baru City Council Hockey stadium along Jalan Tebrau here but we need to do some upgrading work.” — Bernama