The national hockey team coach attended matches on the opening day of competitions to scout potential athletes for the national team from the players participating in the PON XX National Games, officials said.
National hockey team coach Muhammad Dharma Raj Abdullah, accompanied by Jayapura district head Mathius Awoitauw and the chairperson of the Indonesian Hockey Federation (FHI), Brigadier General Yus Adi Kamrullah, observed hockey matches at the Indoor Hockey Arena in Doyo Baru, Jayapura on Wednesday.
Coach Abdullah, who hails from Malaysia, has been assigned the task of observing hockey matches and tagging potential athletes who can bolster the national hockey team and fulfill the athletes’ dreams to play for the country.
District head Awoitauw said he is confident the hockey match venue, which is equipped with international standard facilities, would be convenient for the hockey athletes to play to their full potential, and therefore, it will be easier for the national team coach to assess potential athletes.
“Indonesia only has two hockey fields with top-tier facilities, the first one is in Senayan, Jakarta, and the second one is here. We hope future athletes who play for Indonesia in international championships will emerge from here,” Awoitauw remarked.
He also expressed the hope that hockey athletes would respect sportsmanship and togetherness and remain friendly with each other despite competing fiercely in the match.
Meanwhile, Papua regional FHI head Jan Dancek Kbarek said the body is aiming for success based on three parameters—competition organization, athletes’ achievements, and administrative sectors in indoor and outdoor hockey competitions.
“The indoor and outdoor hockey matches have observed the International Hockey Federation standards, and all judges and referees responsible for the match have national and international certifications,” Kbarek informed.
Six provincial teams are participating in the men’s and women’s hockey competition at the PON XX Games. The matches are taking place from October 4-12, 2021.
The Papua, West Java, Jakarta, and Central Java contingents are participating in both men’s and women’s competitions, while Banten and East Java have only entered a men’s team and West Papua and North Sumatra only a women’s team. (INE)
Source: Antara News