Stadium Management South Africa Director Bertie Grobbelaar has confirmed that the FNB Stadium pitch will not be in its best condition for the Soweto Derby on 3 May because the hybrid pitch system, installed over 10 years ago, has reached its lifespan.
The biggest fixture on the local football calendar will see Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates renew their rivalry in back-to-back fixtures during the month of May which will just be seven days apart.
Grobbelaar has since delivered a blow that despite their efforts to try and get the pitch ready on time, it won’t be at the required level for the Soweto Derby.
“In January this year after efforts to restore the FNB Stadium pitch to its usual standard, our pitch maintainance team had carried out a technical assessment on the pitch,” he told the media.
“Unfortunately, and despite their best efforts, the pitch couldn’t be brought back to its required standard and playing level.
“This led to us mandating a deeper look into the root cause. To make sure we had an accurate understanding, Stadium Management South Africa, together with the City of Johannesburg, under whose mandate we manage the Stadium, a commissioned and independent studying on the pitch, the results confirmed what we were beginning to suspect.
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“The hybrid pitch system called the GrassMaster Desso system, which was installed more than 12 years ago, has simply reached the end of its lifespan.
“This grass master system is a combination of natural grass and synthetic fibres that helps strengthen the surface.
“Overtime, those fibres made of polypropylene, have become brittle and started to break down.”
