Gravels, drains, concrete slabs endanger players

by Abdul Hakim Bujang, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on October 11, 2011, Tuesday

DASHING TRY: Unimas’s player sprints from KRFC Fatcatz pack for the scoreline, Unimas beat KRFC Fatcatz 15-5 at KRFC Song Thian Cheok 7s Memorial trophy at Song Kheng Hai ground.

KUCHING: Urgent action has to be carried out to repair the small hardened patch of gravels and sand at one of the corner fl ags of Song Kheng Hai rugby ground prior to Under 16 CIMB-COBRA league this weekend, said SMK Asajaya coach, Wan Ahmad Ramzi.

“I will speak to Kuching Rugby Football Club (KRFC) president, Dick Bentham to do something about the problem because I don’t want any players to get injured,” he told Borneo Post.

Wan said the school children safety come directly under his responsibility and if any of them injured he would be in hot soup.

Stressing that the organising committee of the just concluded KRFC Song Thian Cheok 7s Memorial trophy have done their level best, Wan insist that the hazard area was probably overlooked.

When asked on the very close proximity of the wall, cement slab and concrete drain to the pitch as highlighted by the invited Peninsular Malaysia clubs playing for the fi rst time here this year, Wan stressed he is unaware of the situation.

Although rugby player s ultimate goal would be reaching the line of the try area to score, the concrete monsoon drain were barely a few feet behind the deadline.

Royal Malaysia Navy ORCA coach, Saheri Talib, when met on Sunday describe safety aspect of the Song Kheng Hai ground as “totally out”.

“The playing surface is very good, the soil is very soft but the concrete drain is less than one metre from the touchlines area, the sides are too near to grandstand and concrete slabs are very near to the field,” he said.

His opinion was supported by his buddy, Khairul Anuar Mohd Saad who is of the view that the authority should do something about the pitch because it pose great danger to the players.

To this, Wan Ramzi requested Borneo Post to follow up with Kuching City South Council (MBKS) because the fi eld comes under the authority purview.

“We are paying the council some fees, if I am not mistaken RM100 per day during tournament, they are the best people to comment on the safety aspect of the fi eld,” he explained, when asked whether the fi eld specifi cation and safety standards meet the minimum requirement to minor or host major tournament like the just concluded KRFC Song Thian Cheok 7s Memorial trophy and ongoing Under 16 CIMB-COBRA League.

A Royal Malaysia Air Force Blackhawk player face was injured while scoring a try when he slide near the corner fl ag that was once used to store sand and stone for construction works during the semifinal game on Sunday.

He was very fortunate the injury was not very serious, and did not go into the history book for the wrong reason.

We wi l l c ont a c t MBKS mayor and Senior Minister Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom for comment today on the sad facade of the Song Kheng Hai ground that deserve proper amenities to further develop high performance sport named Rugby

DANGEROUS: Medic attending to an injured RMAF Blackhawk’s player, note the concrete drain right next to the scoreline area and the hardened patch covered by sand and gravels where the player is being treated. —Photos by Abdul Hakim Bujang