Expanding reach

FIELD hockey’s renaissance in the kingdom took a big step forward as a pair of international-specification goals was delivered to Bahrain Rugby Football Club (BRFC) to allow the game to expand its reach.

Bahrain Hockey donated the equipment to the club which aims to start promoting the sport to its members and stage competitions.

Jude D’Souza of Bahrain Hockey said: “It is a great pleasure to see that one of Bahrain’s biggest expat sport clubs is looking to encourage field hockey and promote it to its members.

“This falls in line with our vision of taking the game across the island and creating competitive as well as social sides to this sport.

“Gender parity in field hockey is something we endorse actively and we are looking to iconic expat sport clubs such as BRFC to help develop female teams for adults and young players. Being one of the biggest global team sports, I am sure the interest levels will be very high for the game.”

Bahrain Hockey’s focus is on pushing the new format of hockey 5s as well as indoor hockey in the kingdom, both of which can be played at the BRFC’s air-conditioned sports hall.

Hockey 5s is a highly-entertaining short format of the game which is played on a half-regulation size hockey pitch and is created for future development and growth of the sport worldwide.

With five players a side, including a goalkeeper, goals can be scored from anywhere and the pitch is surrounded by side- boards. The format was internationally-debuted at the Nanjing Youth Olympic Games in 2014.

Indoor hockey is a recognised World Cup format version of field hockey and has emerged as one of the biggest indoor team sports attractions in Europe. The game is fast catching on in Asia which traditionally plays outdoor field hockey.

The Middle East is warming up to this version and Bahrain Hockey aims to make Bahrain a ‘standout nation’ in respect to this format and promises to support BRFC in its endeavours to promote hockey to its members and ‘deeply appreciates’ the club’s determination to create men’s, women’s and children’s teams.

D’Souza was joined by Bahrain Hockey colleague Anson Sequeira at the handing-over ceremony alongside BRFC facilities manager Bob Philips, GM Chris Kennedy and first team star Lindsay Gibson.

Philips said: “We’re delighted to introduce another competitive sport to our list and particularly pleased to welcome an activity which is popular with both men and women of all ages.”

Field hockey has been played in the kingdom since the 1960s but only in recent years has the sport taken off again after a long lull due to supporters moving on and interest waning.

Bahrain Hockey recently organised a youth day at St Christopher’s Senior School in Isa Town featuring five stations of skill assessment as part of a programme of Happy Hockey Clinics supported by volunteer coaches, assistants and parents.

Now, with a growing number of players of all nationalities training and playing regularly against clubs from across the region, and with international stars of the game visiting and supporting its growth, the opportunities for its development hold no bounds.

The sport’s governing bodies see the kingdom as a key nation in promoting hockey in the Arab world.

Bahrain Hockey is set to come under the wing of the Bahrain Olympic Committee, allowing players and administrators to fully interact with countries attached to the International Hockey Federation and the Asian Hockey Federation.