SIBU, July 17 (Bernama) -- Having five different venues for the men's football competition won't deter the fans from turning up to watch the matches during the Aug 17-24 Malaysia Games (SUKMA).
Datuk Gerald Rentap Jabu, the state Deputy Minister for Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development, said hardcore football fans will travel anywhere to watch and support their teams in action.
“We know how football fans are... they will turn up at the stadium even during the wee hours to watch a match. So, there should be no problem having different venues during this 21st edition of SUKMA,” he told reporters after inspecting the Tun Zaidi Stadium here today.
The football venues for the preliminary rounds are the Tun Zaidi Stadium and Azman Hashim Stadium in Sibu; the Mukah Stadium and Mukah & Dalat District Council (MDDM) Football Field in Mukah; and the Bintulu Stadium in Bintulu.
He said the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final will be held in Mukah and Sarawak will play their preliminary round matches in Mukah.
Gerald, who is the Sarawak chef de mission, also expects work on the pitch and facilities at the Tun Zaidi Stadium to be completed within the next three weeks.
He added that the Mukah Stadium and MDDM Football Field are in good shape and ready for use while the Azman Hashim Stadium is a new sports facility in Sibu Jaya.
The women’s football competition, meanwhile, will be held at the C&D Football Synthetic Field in Kuching.
-- BERNAMA
