adminthat would minimise harm at pitch, an official has announced.
Soccer City, which hosted finals of the historic 2010 Federation of International Football Association World Cup final was always in the poor state of affairs until the City of Johannesburg came with a technology rescuing plan.
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Johannesburg, Councillor Chris Vondo, said Soccer City Stadium was a multi-purpose venue saying this meant that it would also host other events other than soccer.
Cllr Vondo said in order for this world class venue to be self-sufficient, other avenues had to be explored.
He said it was for this reason that the stadium had always accommodated worship gatherings as well as music concerts, but stressed that the new technology would ensure that its turf surface would never get hurt even when dancers or football players use any tactics during their matches.
“ . . . and the revenue stream generated from these events is used to re-invigorate and resuscitate sports patronage as well as ensuring that City owned smaller sporting venues like Orlando, Rand and Dobsonville stadiums benefit so that they too are run efficiently,” said Cllr Vondo.
He said in order to strike a balance in the accommodation of other uses and soccer, technology was the key solution to maintain the pitch without its turf being harmed.
“Moving forward, as the City of Johannesburg we are in the process of installing the Desso Grass Master which is a grass technology that would be a long term investment to ensure co-existence of soccer games in a world standard pitch and other uses of the venue,” Vondo said.
He added that in this instance, this grass technology would ensure that while the venue was earmarked for the opening and the closing games of AFCON, but other booked events were not a threat to the tournament itself.
The councillor confirmed that this technology would be installed from December 18 this year.
Vondo also pointed out that, when there has been a concert or any event in the stadium that would have necessitated a pitch cover, followed by a soccer match in just but days afterwards, the pitch would bound to have not fully recovered.
However, with this grass technology in place, he said this lawn or turf damage would be a thing of the past
“However, the stadium management would not ordinarily accept a game by itself and on its own — Safa and or PSL inspects and approves the pitch”, Vondo said. — CAJ News.
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