Times Of Swaziland: E4.8M ARTIFICIAL  TURF IN DANGER!

E4.8M ARTIFICIAL  TURF IN DANGER!
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BY BHEKISISA MAGONGO on 06/10/2017 01:21:00


MBABANE – Will the artificial turf at the Somhlolo National Stadium last the
minimum 25 years lifespan?
The question has been triggered by the glaring lack of proper management of the
turf that was installed in 2007, as part of the then FIFA Goal Project initiated
by ousted President Joseph Sepp Blatter.
The project cost was E4.8 million and it replaced the natural grass that was
becoming increasingly challenging and expensive to manage by the stadium owners,
government under the Ministry of Home Affairs, which housed the department of
Sports.
Recently, the facility has suffered several damages, but mainly it has been
allowed to host games even without the turf being watered two hours before
kickoff as was stressed by the FIFA experts when the facility was officially
handed over.
The National Football Association of Swaziland (NFAS), who owns the turf were
represented by former Vice President Nichodemus ‘Ace’ Mashwama, when the
conditions for the maintenance of the facility were outlined. On Sunday, during
the MTN League triple-header, the turf was watered during half time of the first
match between Moneni Pirates and Mbabane Midas City. And apart from that, the
National Fire and Emergency Service’s water tanker wheeled through the turf
much against the conditions set by the experts.