The Hindu : Sport / Hockey : KHA's plea to the government

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Feb 14, 2006

Sport

Sport - Hockey

KHA's plea to the government

Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM : The Kerala Hockey Association (KHA) has urged the State Government to immediately allot the land required for the laying the synthetic turf in Kollam.

Addressing a press conference here on Monday, the KHA president, Kaikara Nizamuddin and secretary, Ramesh Kolappa said the failure of the Government to allot the land within this month itself would lead to the project getting shelved.

"As of now, the Sports Authority of India is keen to provide the facility to Kerala. But if we continue to remain lethargic in identifying the required land and handing it over to SAI, the project could either get shelved or be shifted to some other State."

The Kollam Collector had identified a plot near Asramam for the project sometime back. But the Cooperation Department, which owned the land, was reluctant to hand over the plot thus forcing the authorities to look out for alternate land. Moreover, the local Bar Council too was keen in getting the identified land allotted to it.

Mr. Nizamuddin said Kerala hockey, which was presently looking up, would continue to remain in the fringes of the National scene unless players from the State got the opportunity to practice on synthetic turf regularly.

"We have been trying hard for having a synthetic turf laid in the State for the past several years. Fortunately for us, SAI has now come forward to take up the project provided the Government was willing to make available the required land free of cost. The total expenditure for laying the turf and developing the ancillary facilities was expected to cost SAI a little over Rs. 6 crore."

SZ tournament

The KHA golden jubilee celebrations, which has been on through the last one year, would conclude with the Association hosting the next South Zone tournament featuring holder Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra, Hyderabad, Pondicherry and Goa besides the home team in Thalassery during the first week of April. The exact dates of the tournament would be announced later after consultation with the Indian Hockey Federation.

A clinic for coaches from Kerala will also be held in Thalassery as part of the South Zone championship.

Besides, the KHA was also planning to hold an umpires clinic in Thiruvananthapuram under the supervision of the FIH Umpires Manager Kuku Walia. The dates of this clinic too would be decided only later. Besides the clinic, the capital city will also be the host of the coming State senior championship.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail