Hockey: Driving force for Bay hockey

General manager Clyde du Toit with Tauranga Mayor Stuart Crosby.

As the accompanying photos attest, the past 18 months have seen huge changes for Clyde du Toit and the Tauranga Hockey Centre.

Gone are the handlebar moustache, temporary contract and the worn out old hockey turfs; here is the clean shaven, full-time general manager of an international hockey venue with a growing reputation.

The moustache was gone soon after Movember 2012 - living on only in the Bay of Plenty Times database - but Du Toit's endless drive and passion for the sport has never wavered.

His boundless energy in concert with his board and army of helpers, along with a remarkable amount of funding predominantly from TECT, has seen the centre and association move forward in leaps and bounds.

The centre has hosted the New Zealand men's and women's sides, the New Zealand Maori team as well as the final of the Intercity men's hockey competition between Bayleys Otumoetai and champions CMS Mount Maunganui.

Two new water turfs, scoreboards and lights have transformed the venue, with additional practice turfs, new dugouts and grandstands in various stages of the planning process.

In a statement, the Tauranga Hockey Centre said it had been "delighted with the level of high calibre candidate interest in the position", but that du Toit "brings to the role a strong track record and background in the sport and recreation sector in the Bay of Plenty and abroad, and a proven ability to develop and forge new relationships at all levels of sports administration".

Du Toit, who has a Bachelor of Physical Education (Major in Sports Science) degree from the University Of Witwatersrand (SA) and holds a Damelin Business School (SA) Diploma in Business Management, has typically already set his sights on the work ahead.

"I am driven by a passion to succeed, the presence of challenge and a desire for work fulfilment," Du Toit said.

"I believe sport and the healthy lifestyle and benefits it creates, contributes significantly to a positive and happy community."