KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia Stadium Corp’s decision to refurbish their existing Zeon Zoysia pitch to hybrid grass has raised questions about the time needed for the pitch to mature for football matches.
The current Zeon Zoysia pitch has been under scrutiny due to its frequently poor condition following its refurbishment from cow grass over the past six months, prompting Stadium Corp to make this decision.
It’s understood that Zeon Zoysia takes at least ten months to fully mature for use, while a hybrid pitch typically takes six to eight months.
Speaking to Scoop, sports analyst Mohd Sadek Mustafa said that Stadium Corp should give more time for the new pitch to mature and be firm in banning it for other uses.
“The previous mistake should not be repeated by the Stadium Corp. This time, they should not allow the pitch to be used for at least 12 months for it to fully mature.
“Why 12 months? Because that is the right time frame needed for the pitch to reach its maximum potential, providing the best experience for our Malaysian footballers.
“I’ve visited England multiple times and have close ties with Wembley Stadium management officers during the 2012 London Olympics. They’ve briefed me on the duration needed for a pitch to mature post-refurbishment.
“The crucial question now is whether the Stadium Corp is prepared to temporarily close Bukit Jalil stadium for refurbishment for the next 12 months.
“I strongly believe Stadium Corp must be stringent, ensuring the pitch is solely dedicated to football, with priority given to the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) post-refurbishment,” said the senior sports science lecturer at Universiti Teknologi Mara when contacted.
It was reported that the Stadium Corp will be working closely with the management of Larkin Stadium to receive the hybrid grass sponsored by the Regent of Johor, Crown Prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim.
Stadium Corp also remains committed to managing a multipurpose pitch that can be used for sporting and non-sporting events.
The stadium, constructed in 1998 for the Commonwealth Games at a cost of RM1 billion, underwent major renovations as part of the Kuala Lumpur Sports City project for the 2017 Kuala Lumpur Sea Games, with a combined cost of RM1.34 billion.
In 2022, Tunku Ismail agreed to sponsor the renovation cost to replace the cow grass pitch at Bukit Jalil with Zeon Zoysia costing RM1 million as a gift to Harimau Malaya after the pitch was found to be in poor condition during the 2023 Asian Cup qualifiers.
It is understood that the estimated cost of renovating the pitch was RM1.5 million, with RM300,000 required for maintenance to uphold its quality.
The most recent incident took place when the coach of the Oman football team, Jaroslav Silhavy, revealed that his team was not allowed to train on the pitch before their 2026 World Cup/2027 Asian Cup qualifier against Malaysia on March 26.
The pitch was in a poor state after British pop star Ed Sheeran held a concert for a sold-out crowd of 50,000 at the National Stadium on February 24.
When the match started, the pitch quickly tore up and led to a serious injury for Harimau Malaya defender Azam Azmi. – April 18, 2024