Astronomical news for Easterns hockey

Hockey lovers in Ekurhuleni are over the moon with the completion of the first phase of construction of the Eastern Gauteng Hockey Association’s (EGHA) AstroTurf facility, at their new site, in Benoni.

The artificial playing surface, the first of its kind in the region, a long-awaited dream of many hockey players in Ekurhuleni, is now, finally, ready for action.

On Thursday, January 19, The City Times caught up with the project team of Des Riddle, Shaune Baaitjies and Rod Douglas, who have been responsible for managing the first phase of construction of the AstroTurf project, since the approval of a R4.5-million South African National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund grant, in February, 2011.

All three members of the project team have served as either president or vice-president of the EGHA (Riddle is the current vice-president) and all three share a common goal of taking the sport in the region to another level.

“The common thread for all of us over these years has been to improve hockey for Eastern Gauteng children,” said Riddle.

“With the establishment of the Astro here, our teams’ levels of performance can be raised and we (Easterns) can compete fairly and competitively at provincial tournaments.”

It is also a positive tool in driving development of the hockey in the region.

The idea of constructing an AstroTurf facility in the Eastern Gauteng region has been a dream of numerous hockey lovers and Baaitjies was one of those who were determined to get the project going.

She and Sam Roberts put together the application for a grant to Lotto in September, 2010, and, in February, 2011, when the grant was approved and the first half of the money was received, the project team (responsible for implementing phase one) was established after discussions with the then president of the EGHA, Elsabe Watt.

Their agenda was simple: the team had to find a suitable site for the AstroTurf and then oversee the construction of the turf.

“In the original grant we had a site identified, but, once we got together as a project team, we determined that the initial site was not suitable,” said Douglas.

Following numerous consultations and discussions with the Ekurhuleni Metro’s sports department, the team finally received council approval and allocation of the current site, consisting of the two fields (formerly the B and C fields of Benoni Northerns), which will be lease from the council by the EGHA.

The association signed the contract with Greenfields (the contractor) in July, 2014, for the AstroTurf, and earthworks commenced in August.

Currently, the finishing touches of phase one are being finalised, with the sand filler being dressed into the fibre of the mat.

The sand dressed AstroTurf (similar to an ordinary AstroTurf, but without irrigation pipes beneath the mat) can be converted to water-based turf in the future.

The fibre of the mat used on this surface is the same fibre that was used on surfaces at the 2014 Rabobank Hockey World Cup, in The Hague, while the sand filler will give the surface longevity and ensure true ball speed.

“We would like to convert to a full water mat at some point in the future,” said Riddle.

But, as Baaitjies added, the initial desire has always just been to have an AstroTurf associated with Easterns.

Phase two, which includes cabling and lighting for evening play, will commence once sufficient funding is available through fund-raising and sponsorships.

When the AstroTurf is officially up and running and matches are in full swing the project team’s role will reduce significantly.

The administrative running of leagues and games will be handled through the EGHA, when the project team hands over the baton to the EGHA’s Astro Operations Committee.

“It must be noted that the higher fees and running fees of the Astro must enable the replacement of the mat, which could be necessary at any time between eight and 10 years,” said Douglas.

A fun-filled family opening day is set to take place, at a date still to be announced.

With everything finally coming together, excitement is building among those who have been the driving force of the Astro construction.

“It sort of feels like those first few days before Christmas,” explained Baaitjies.

Jethro Eustice, who grew up in Benoni and who recently donned the captain’s armband for the South African men’s national hockey team, believes the AstroTurf will make a massive difference to hockey in Ekurhuleni.

“Everyone in the region must take full advantage of the opportunity we have now to make the sport we love grow bigger and bigger,” he said.