HARARE – Underfire Minister of Sport, Arts and Recreation, Kirsty Coventry has hinted that an artificial turf could be installed at the National Sports Stadium (NSS) as she further claimed they are working towards renovating the facility to meet international standards.
Coventry revealed this on Monday in Harare during her first visit of the Geo Pomona Waste Management site where a football stadium and other sports facilities are currently under construction.
Her comments comes after the Geo Pomona Waste Management football pitch which has an astro turf was certified by the world football governing body, FIFA’s agent last week.
Cemil Nadir Sahin, the FIFA agent, was in the country to carry out inspection of the football pitch which he certified that it meets international standards.
As a result, the former Olympian who is under fire for her unfulfilled promises regarding renovations at NSS since assuming the office in 2018 revealed:
“I know at our National Sports Stadium we have had to try and replace the grass over years and now you end up with several different types of grass and that’s not the best facility.
“So, we have also been looking at bringing in, as part of the revamping of the National Sports Stadium, an astro-turf for the main stadium, keeping the grass in the B arena for now,” she said.
“So we are working towards that. I just asked for the contacts who brought in their (Geo Pomona) astro-turf so that we can measure up against the companies that have already brought it to us and we will go from there.
“I think with the right management in place as well as all other components and the right equipment, an astro-turf is the way to go, and that is what we will be advocating for as a Ministry for the National Sports Stadium.”
NSS was declared by CAF and FIFA, unfit to host any international matches until it meets minimum required standards that include improving the turf and installing bucket seats.
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