A tractor clearing the site of the former DBKL sports club where the new facilities will be located. — MUHAMAD SHAHRIL ROSLI/The Star
The presence of a development signboard is not always welcome by residents in a neighbourhood but one new sign in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur, brought smiles to the folk there.
This Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) signboard in Jalan Tun Sambanthan 1 contained details of the construction of a football field and community hall on the former DBKL sports club site.
The project, the signboard stated, was being undertaken by DBKL’s Landscape and Recreation Department and began on Nov 15 last year.
It is slated for completion on Aug 15 this year.
“This is the best new year’s gift for the children,” said Brickfields school sports teacher A. Saras.
Maniam is happy a facility that is needed is being built.
“A field to play on and practise sports is the most precious gift to a township that has so much development and no space for recreation.
“At least now schools nearby with no playing field can have a place to play games and host sporting events,” she added.
Tong Soon Mansion resident GS Maniam was pleasantly surprised to see the project’s signboard.
“For once, DBKL is building a facility that we actually need,’’ he said.
Long-time Brickfields resident and avid footballer S. Raymond echoed Maniam’s sentiments.
“In the past 20 years, we have seen all our playing fields disappear in the name of development or lost to land swap deals with developers.
“We are training 600 boys to play football and it is such as a challenge to get playing fields.
“The one that was used for training in Pantai Dalam, Lembah Pantai, was damaged during the general election last year and has been off limits,” Raymond said, adding that he hoped that the Brickfields one would be opened soon.
StarMetro has reported on the lack of playing fields and open space in Kuala Lumpur, especially in Brickfields, several times over the years.
At the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Mahadi Che Ngah was inundated with requests from city folk for more playing fields.
To fulfil the request, he promised that he would replace the football field that was demolished in 2017.
Raymond says Brickfields has lost many fields over the years.
He approved plans for the field to be restored where the DBKL sports club used to be.
Mahadi said there would be basic facilities including toilets, changing rooms and a parking lot.
The field, he said, would have cow grass and would be equipped with floodlights for night use.
During a recent interview, Mahadi told StarMetro that the project had been delayed because of certain technical requirements that needed to be met.
The former DBKL sports club was built in 1970 for use by City Hall’s staff.
It was the home ground for the Kuala Lumpur football team for tournaments in the 1980s.
The club’s facilities was used by football legends such as Rashid Hassan, Razip Ismail, Fandi Ahmad and Chow Siew Yai.
