'Champions League' surface at Marvin Lee...set to open mid-April.
By: Shaun Fuentes (TTFF).
The newly laid down artificial football pitch at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Centre of Excellence has been described as “Champions’ League” quality and is rated far higher than any other of its kind in the Western world..
This was the view of visiting FIFA consultant Dr Eric Harrison of European-based company Medici Sports Harrison inspected the surface on Thursday morning in the company of FIFA Vice President Jack Warner and other local football officials including TTFF General Secretary Richard Groden, FIFA Development Officer Harold Taylor, Deputy FIFA development officer Darryl Warner as well as venue manager Neil Mollineau, Brian Ibrahim of Terra Forma, the local contracting company involved and project manager Gerard “Tex” Teixeira.
“The impression is excellent. What we have done is used local people where we could but there was also the need for specialist technical knowledge which was the reason for bring in a team from Europe to ensure that everything was spot on. They have all done a wonderful job. This is meant to be a premier facility. It is the highest level achieved in artificial terms today,” Harrison told TTFF Media in reference to the surface which is idea put forward by Warner as he felt it would be a massive boost to the staging of matches here. It is also part of the second FIFA Goal Project in which leisure-grass Belgium-based company Domo was also involved.
The revamped facility which will include the restructuring of covered stands is likely to be opened in mid-April according to Warner who also met with Harrison and his team to discuss plans for the maintenance of it
“Maintenance is the key here,” Harrison added and when asked as to whether there will still be some form of discomfort for players who have in the past complained about the negative effects on their legs after playing on the surface, Harrison explained that with this pitch there should be no grumbles. All that is required is for players to maybe get a feel of the surface.
“The two star level has been designed for the highest level of play. It is used in the Champions’ League and also for World Cup qualifiers. You can now play World Cup qualifying football here because this has been approved by FIFA. Normally for this type of surface you begin at level one but here you have gone right to the top… there isn’t any better than this,” Harrison added.
He said a natural field can have up to 300 hours of football played on it per year whereas the new artificial surface at the Marvin Lee Stadium can now accommodate 2000 hours of action per year, roughly six hours per day.
