World Cup Pitch Preparation For Moses Mabhida Stadium Durban
Following the successful hosting of the Telkom Cup semi-Final on Easter Monday
, preparation of the pitch at the Moses Mabhida Stadium for the FIFA World Cup will continue today. This will involve the existing Warm season grass pitch (Cynodon) being replaced with a Cool Season grass pitch (Ryegrass) as required by FIFA.
Pitch preparation commenced last week with the growth retardation of the Cynodon grass which resulted in the grass not being as green as it has been for the previous matches.
According to Johan Jansen Van Vuuren, the Stadiums pitch consultant, The pitch will be stripped down to the roots to allow space for the winter grass to grow and as a result will take on a brown soil colour. Seed will be sown into the growing medium and will be covered with topdressing. This grass will germinate in about seven days after seeding and the pitch will be green again in 14 days. The pitch will be playable in 6-8 weeks after seeding and will thus be ready well in time for the world cup.
Such pitch preparation is not uncommon in South Africa or the rest of the world where warm season grasses are over-seeded with cool season grasses as occurs regularly at Ellis Park and Durbans Absa Stadium.
Tim Ter Haar, Stadium Manager, said Unfortunately, given the preparation of the pitch the Moses Mabhida Stadium will not be able to host the Telkom Cup final. However, the city has advised the PSL that they will support any initiative to host the cup final at ABSA stadium should this opportunity arise.