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SCMP Reporter

The Hong Kong Stadium pitch may undergo wholesale re-turfing and soil restructuring next summer following a litany of complaints from local sports officials.

 The stadium's board of governors will decide at their monthly meeting on Friday whether to give the green light to the job which will cost around $8 million.

 It could be the first major overhaul since the So Kon Po facility re-opened its doors after an $850 million revamp in March 1994.

 A spokesman for stadium managers Wembley International said they were aware of the problem of the pitch and were trying hard to find a permanent solution.

 'We are aware that there are problems concerning the pitch. That's why we are looking at a complete restructuring of the soil and a re-turfing,' said marketing and public relations manager Terrence Lee.

 'We suggest a restructuring of the entire pitch. At the moment it is sand-based, which is ideal for drainage but is difficult for the grass to get a grip on the ground. We will examine whether we need a mixture of soil and sand.

 'Besides, we may need to sow a different type of grass to match the soil and the weather here.

 'The job contract will be tendered and we will welcome both local and overseas companies.

 'If everything is approved, work will start next July and last for about two months,' added Lee.

 Lee guaranteed Wembley would continue to improve the pitch condition before the actual re-turfing starts.

 'We will close the stadium for two weeks next month to sow the winter rye. The pitch should improve after that because the weather in November and December is most suitable for the growth of grass,' he said.

 Three First Division soccer matches have been scheduled for the 40,000-seat stadium this month - the first league game between South China and Instant-Dict on Sunday, Sing Tao v Instant-Dict on the 14th and South China v Happy Valley on the 18th.

 The problem pitch underwent re-turfing at a cost of $1 million, in April to prepare a better pasture for the Reunification Cup on July 3 and the exhibition between Manchester United and South China on July 20.

 However, the outcome was disappointing and the pitch has again come under fire from local soccer officials, sports promoters and even Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson.

 Julian Kam of sports promoters ProEvents, organisers of the Manchester United match, blasted the pitch, saying Wembley had failed to get it right despite months of working on it.

 Brian Catton of Ken Catton Enterprises, which promoted June's exhibition between Inter Milan and Sing Tao, said: 'I didn't notice any difference in the ground following the re-turfing that took place in April.'  The pitch also drew criticism from Ferguson, who feared his players would be at risk playing on it.

 'The pitch is cutting up. The surface is just sand-based and the turf doesn't hold well. Injuries can occur,' he said before the game.

 Lee offered two key reasons for the pitch's poor condition.

 'We had heavy rain in June and July and the new grass which had been laid down did not have enough time to grow properly,' Lee said.

 'Also, there were a lot of non-sporting events during the handover period which saw the pitch covered with Terraplas [a protective boarding].' 



Major overhaul on the cards for troubled stadium