IPOH – New Zealand head coach Greg Nicol praised the Perak Hockey Association (PHA) for their efforts in maintaining the astroturf pitch at the Azlan Shah Stadium.
Nicol’s response came after his side’s 4-1 victory against South Korea at the ongoing Sultan Azlan Shah Cup today.
The match, which was supposed to kick off at 6.15pm, was interrupted by a heavy downpour after one minute and 15 seconds of play in the first quarter.
The match resumed after a one-hour wait.
Nicol commended the stand made by the tournament organisers to resume the match despite the heavy downpour and further applauded the quality of the drainage system in the stadium.
“The quality of the astroturf pitch is top-notch, and I’m glad that the game was playable after the rain subsided.
“The organisers were right on point to ensure that the game kept going after the delay without postponing the match.
“Moreover, everyone in the stadium was cooperative and made sure that the dressing room was in good condition while we were waiting for the game.
“Overall, big kudos to the organisers for running the tournament really well over the past few days,” said Nicol during a post-match conference.
Azlan Shah Stadium was constructed in 1984 and has the capacity for 10,000 hockey fans.
New Zealand, known as the Black Sticks by their fans, have made 14 appearances in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, winning the tournament twice (2012 and 2015) since its inception in 1983.
New Zealand will next play Pakistan in their last pool match on Friday. – May 8, 2024