KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian Stadium Corporation (PSM) has assured that no “penyodok” (dustpans) will be used to remove rainwater from the pitch of the Bukit Jalil National Stadium for the upcoming Asean Football Federation (AFF) Cup matches.
The Harimau Malaya will play three matches at the national stadium, starting with their friendly match against Cambodia on December 9, followed by their AFF Cup Group B match against Laos on December 24, and the final group stage match against Singapore on January 3.
Speaking to The Vibes, PSM chief executive officer Faidz Sanusi said the appalling treatment of the pitch during the 2023 Asian Cup qualifiers, when dustpans and cardboards were used to remove excess water from the pitch, would not be repeated.
“This time, we will be much more coordinated in case of heavy rain since it is the monsoon season now.
“PSM and the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) will work together to discuss the best technical approach in case of heavy rain.
“But rest assured, no ‘penyodoks’ will be used this time or ever again,” he said.
Faidz said the stadium management possesses the right equipment to remove excess water from the pitch’s surface, such as water removal machines that are standard in stadiums with grass pitches.
“We have the equipment needed, so moving forward, we will ensure that it is coordinated better so the pitch condition is protected.”
Previously, it was understood that PSM had advised FAM and AFC to postpone the kick-off time for the match between Malaysia and Bahrain by 30 minutes to allow the field drainage system to function better.
Meanwhile, Faidz said the process of changing the national stadium’s pitch to the Zeon Zoysia grass gifted by the Crown Prince of Johor will likely begin in March of 2023.
“We are not just changing the grass but also the entire drainage and piping system that runs underneath the pitch, so we have to dig it all up.
“In the meantime, we are already doing the needed steps to prepare for the upgrading works next year,” he added.
Faidz said the stadium management are in the midst of preparing the nursery for the grass, and workshops for all the equipment, while in the process of obtaining more grow lights for the new grass.
Even though Malaysia bakes in the sun for most of the year, Faidz said the pitch in the national stadium only gets around an hour and a half of sunlight, much less than the seven hours usually needed for a grass pitch.
“Because of this, we need to get more grow lights that function as an artificial sun. We have a couple of them now, but we will need around four or five more for the new grass,” he said.
Faidz said the last time the Bukit Jalil National Stadium’s pitch was dug up to replace the piping system underneath was in 2013, while the pitch was changed in 2015. – The Vibes, October 31, 2022
