MFA Secretary General Bjorn Vassallo yesterday revealed that the association had invested euro 1.5 million for the new hybrid pitch built by the company SIS/Grass at the National Stadium.

Addressing a news conference yesterday morning, Vassallo said that the pitch is now ready for use and confirmed that it will be inaugurated on 4 September on the occasion of the World Cup qualifier between Malta and Scotland.

The excellent pitch is a combination of grass (95 per cent) and fibres (5 per cent). SisGrass is an advanced and patented reinforced turf system which offers increased pitch stability and delivers considerably more playing hours than natural grass surfaces.

He said this modern surface comes after the 35-year existence of the previous turf surface. The MFA secretary went on to say that the new surface will be capable to handle about 100 matches every year and is expected to last at least 10 to 15 years, although the builders said that the period could extend to 25 years as well.

Vassallo added that the pitch was another investment which proves the MFA’s consistency in improving the local football facilities, not only at the clubs, but also at national level.

He said in the next three years, the concentration will turn on the improvement of the facilities at the Ta’ Qali centre. “We intend to spend more millions to build a solid base for the future for the national teams, our clubs and even sports tourism,” he added.

Vassallo said the investment came from funds arriving from FIFA and UEFA as well as MFA funds.

He thanked the company responsible for building the new surface, SIS/Grass, for the hard work they put in to finish the project in time.

Also addressing the press were representatives of the company George Mullan, CEO, and Carlos Reis, Director of Operations.

Mullan thanked the MFA for giving the company the opportunity to build such a surface. He added: “It follows others in Istanbul, Olympiakos and Derby, not to mention 20 training pitches around Europe.

“We are now working on the Luzniki Stadium in Moscow and we are in the process of building others at Munich 1860, Fulham (two pitches) and St George’s Park, which is England’s national football centre.”

Mullan said he and the company were confident that this Malta pitch will be a success story.

Reis explained the technical details involved in the construction of the pitch. He went on to say that the drainage system works fast and if the pitch becomes flooded, it would take only a few minutes to become playable.

He added: “The irrigation system consists of 35 sprinklers around the pitch and that makes it easy to water the surface in just five minutes.”

Emmanel Cassar, Head of Infrastructural Projects at the MFA, said he was pleased to have worked hand in hand with the builders of the pitch.

“It was a challenging project. Now that it is a finished job, we must make sure to make good use of it,” he said.

He confirmed that the Royal Malta Golf Club will now be taking care of the maintenance of the pitch.

 

Photos Domenic Aquilina