What is SISGrass? SISGrass is the next generation of hybrid pitches. It is an advanced and patented reinforced turf system which offers increased pitch stability and delivers up to three times more playing hours than natural grass surfaces.

The Malta Football Association has invested in this type of hybrid pitch at Malta’s primary football stadium, the National Stadium in Ta’ Qali. Major work on the pitch at the National Stadium is now nearing completion. This Malta FA project is part of numerous infrastructural projects aimed at upgrading Malta’s football facilities to the most modern standards.

The re-enforced natural turf is the latest type of hybrid grass surface to hit the football world. This reinforced turf system has been laid at several major stadia around the world. It is estimated that this project will cost the Malta FA €1.5 million.  

Emanuel Cassar, Head of Infrastructure Projects at the Malta FA confirmed that a UEFA turf consultant, Alan Ferguson, surveyed and conducted a pitch inspection earlier this year. This was followed by an executive report not only on the National Stadium but also the adjacent training grounds. After consultations with expert leaders in this field, the local Football Association decided to grant the contract to SIS Pitches.

Mr Cassar spoke to The Malta Independent on Sunday about the project in general and about his passion for football. “We knew this would not be an easy job from the very start. We had to roll up our sleeves and prepare to work hard. For us football doesn’t end when the season does. Street football got me where I am today in the Malta Football Association. One emotional childhood memory that I still remember, and makes me nostalgic is when I used to buy a small can of paint to mark the goal posts in the streets of my hometown, Zejtun.”

The work included the removal of pitch profile to drainage level, the supply and installation of a new drainage system including a gravel layer, an irrigation system followed by sand and root zone layers as well as fertilisation and final levelling. Row-planting works of Bermuda grass, grow-in maintenance, completion of the peripheral area and supply of pitch equipment was also included as part of the deal within the two parties.

SIS International was part of a competitive tender process to construct a new pitch at the National Stadium in Malta. The stadium is the home ground of Malta’s national football team, as well as the main venue for most of the matches, from the BOV Premier League to other high ranked competitive matches.

The SIS Pitches project includes full construction of the new pitch and installation of SISGrass – the patented hybrid pitch system. The project was led by Carlos Reis, Operations Director who constructed the pitch with his team in 22 days. The existing pitch was removed to a depth of 100 cm, new drains were installed along with a new automatic irrigation system. The gravel, sand and root zone was imported from Italy as there were no suitable materials available on the island. The pitch was row planted on 22 and 23 June with a supplier from Italy. 

English championship side Derby County will go into the new season boasting the same most technologically advanced pitch in English football. The Rams started their Championship campaign at the iPro Stadium against Brighton yesterday. It is also the first in the UK to be played on the SISGrass pitch.

Derby is not alone though as at St George’s Park, the facilities of the England team also has the same modern pitches technology.

The home stadium of Turkish Super Lig club Besiktas, the Besiktas Vodafone Arena was completed last April and at the moment the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, the host stadium for the FIFA World Cup Final 2018 is also undergoing the same technological surface pitch change, with work due to be completed in October.

The Malta FA will officially inaugurate the newly laid pitch surface when the same stadium hosts the FIFA 2018 World Cup European Group F Qualifying match between Malta and Scotland on 4 September.

Project timeline and costs

Work on the construction of a new hybrid pitch began on Monday 30 May and kickstarted a €1.5 million infrastructure investment in the National Stadium.

Estimated date of completion: Monday 16 August – Total 79 days

Pitch handover: Monday 5 September

Materials used:

2,425 Tonnes of gravel

3,400 Tonnes of sand

1,700 Tonnes of 90% sand + 10% peat [root zone layer]

650 Tonnes of top dressing sand

215,000 Bermuda T.419 plants

18,975,000 synthetic yarns [SISGrass]

95% natural turf + 5% synthetic turf 

Photos Domenic Aquilina