By Nangamso Mabindla
6 February 2006

FIRST class hockey returned to Buffalo Flats in East London when the municipality officially opened the new R5-million AstroTurf hockey stadium on Saturday, 4 February.

The Buffalo Flats community and young hockey players alike filled Schoeman Stadium to witness the historic occasion. Also at the opening was Buffalo City Mayor Sindisile Maclean, Deputy Minister for Arts and Culture Ntombazana Botha, MEC for economic affairs and tourism Andre de Wett, and SA Hockey president Charles Smith.

Speaking at the occasion, MacLean said he was happy that the area finally had a world-class hockey facility. "It is good to see that this community will now be able to produce world-class hockey players to represent our country in events like the Commonwealth Games and the Olympics."

The mayor said the turf was built to meet international standards for hockey fields. "This turf is similar to those used in the Athens Olympics - this means that our city made sure that the turf would be of good quality."

He urged the community to work closely with the Buffalo Flats Sports Club to keep the turf in good condition. "We would like this turf to be used by the community and [those of] the surrounding areas. But, most importantly, we would like to host an international hockey test right here in Buffalo Flats," Maclean said.

The AstroTurf was the fourth in the city, alongside ones in King William's Town, Xerox Park in Bunker's Hill and Selborne Hockey Stadium. It would service places like Buffalo Flats, Parkside, Duncan Village and Mdantsane.

"It is more accessible than other hockey stadiums in the city. We hope it helps promote hockey in the more disadvantaged areas like Mdantsane, Parkside and Duncan Village," Maclean added.

Smith said he was very pleased when he heard that the hockey stadium was to open in Buffalo Flats. "I was so excited to hear that the City would be opening these wonderful facilities. Our disadvantage hockey youngsters will now have world-class facilities at which to hone their skills."

Smith, who was born in East London, urged community sports clubs to work closely with Border Hockey to promote hockey in areas like Buffalo Flats.

"If you take care of these facilities we [SA Hockey] might be tempted to bring a women's international test to Buffalo Flats," Smith said.

A clubhouse, floodlights and other needed facilities would be added to the stadium, bringing the total cost to R10-million.

Following the formalities Maclean and Angie Halley, widow of Buffalo Flats resident and former deputy mayor Des Halley, cut the ribbon declaring the stadium open.