HOCKEY IN Barbados has missed a crucial goal at the beginning of the new year.
Investigations by NATIONSPORT have revealed that the annual general meeting of the Barbados Hockey Federation (BHF) was postponed last Saturday after it was found that most members were not in good financial standing.
Traditionally, members of the federation paid their dues at the door. However, prior to the meeting, newly appointed treasurer Hugh McClean reportedly wrote
to the members informing them that the membership was due and money would not be collected at the door.
NATIONSPORT understands McClean made himself available weeks in advance. Last Tuesday, he also arrived 90 minutes early for a meeting and members were informed he would be there so that dues could be collected.
One former national player and long-standing official is absolutely livid over the state of the sport.
“On the day of the meeting, a full quorum had not paid up to the start of the meeting, but before that was even discussed, the gathering was told that the meeting was off,” the member told NATIONSPORT, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The financial year ended last September and the meeting will now be held on March 10, allowing members time to get their standing up to scratch and also go through the correct nomination process.
This comes on the heels of the 2011 season which hasn’t really been concluded.
The irate member described the current situation as “shambolic”.
“They knew the pitch had its problems and had outlived its usefulness, but no fund-raising event has been done in six years outside of the Banks Hockey Festival and that is getting poorer and poorer,” the source noted.
The artificial turf at the National Hockey Centre, which forms part of the Garfield Sobers Sports Complex, is also in a state of disrepair, long past its seven-year shelf life after it was laid in 1996.
“The money is there, but we need to have people who are willing to work,” the source said.
It is understood that the British hockey federation had already informed its members that the turf here was no good and they would have to play on grass.
No one wants to play on grass as turf is the preferred surface.
“They truncated the season to one round and then postponed games willy-nilly. The pitch was very often not playable. A suggestion was made to play on home grounds on grass, but the offer was never taken up,” it was pointed out.
This is also a cause for concern for the clubs and teams which were demoted last year and were never given a chance to regain promotion.
In an interview with the Weekend Nation last July, BHF vice-president Roger Broomes said hockey was unlikely to be played on the turf after last season because of its deteriorating state.
It will cost in excess of $500 000 to repair the turf and the BHF has been in discussion with the Barbados Olympic Association who contacted several providers on the issue.