Olimpiyskiy pitch turf will get more durable
Wednesday, May 19, 2021
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Shakhtar-Service LLC Facilities Department Director Vadym Gunko spoke about the pitch renovation carried out during the current season break at the NSC Olimpiyskiy in Kyiv
- We are used to playing on a good pitch all the time, so this initiative was suggested by our club. At all home grounds which we’ve had quite a few, starting from the Donbass Arena, we paid special attention to the pitch quality. It is a worldwide and European practice to have fairly high standards and requirements for the field. We discussed this issue with senior executives at the NSC Olimpiyskiy for quite a while, and later with FC Dynamo. We reached a consensus: the time has come. Actually, exactly 10 years have passed since this turf was laid. And it should have been changed a long time ago. Now we’ve started implementing the project.
- What kind of work is being carried out these days?
- This is a standard practice: we remove the existing pitch turf layer using our equipment and technology that we acquired in the UK and which we have been using all the time. Then we carry out the final levelling of the pitch turf surface. I suppose that late this week or early next week, they will start laying the pitch reinforcement system. Later, they will perform a series of technological operations before sowing the grass. That is, that’s not quite turf in rolls as we actually sow it, and then we need a break of at least about five weeks to let it grow it, perhaps, even amid the summer heat in Kyiv.
- The new season usually kicks off in mid-July ...
- That’s right. We expect that by the middle of July this pitch will already be in a fairly good condition, and by late July and early August it will be perfect, of excellent quality.
- What do we want to get if we compare those two pitches? What's the difference?
- A onlooker may not notice a dramatic difference, but an attentive viewer will notice that the pitch will have a uniform colour. If someone looks closer, especially when they watch an HD stream, they might notice some spots of light-green colour - this is the so-called annual bluegrass, in fact, a weed. Almost the entire surface of this pitch was affected by this weed. This always happens if they don’t change it once in a few years. First of all, we plan and expect that aesthetically the pitch will get much better and more beautiful, and functionally, which is of the greatest importance for the players, it will be ‘faster’ and of a higher quality, and most importantly it’ll be much more durable. This will directly affect the players' sensations and their ability to show their best playing qualities.
- How do you interact with the NSC Olimpiyskiy and with Dynamo? Did any questions cause controversy?
- No controversy at all - we work absolutely in unison so far. With the management of Olimpiyskiy we find understanding on all issues. I am sure that the Ministry of Youth and Sports in this case also understand the importance of this process. FC Dynamo management also support this idea, and not only support it, but actually took certain financial obligations to participate and invest in the project. So far, everything is going according to plan. The work is carried out primarily by the groundsmen of the NSC Olimpiyskiy, of course, with our participation. We’ve got the experience - we know how to do it, we have the technology and know how to control quality. And the client of this process is the NSC Olimpiyskiy. I want to express my gratitude and appreciation to the management for the fact that they understand the importance and are engaged in the implementation of this idea.
- Please tell us more about the technology and experience.
- At the Donbass Arena, we installed the pitch turf reinforcement system back in 2011. In 2013, we carried out the field renovation - in fact, the same operation as we do now, with certain peculiarities. At the same time, we purchased sets of equipment in the UK that allow you to properly cut off the turf layer and properly renovate the reinforced pitches. Then, at all stadiums starting with Arena Lviv and ending with OSK Metalist, we carried out renovations. In Kharkiv it was thorough, in fact, they also cut off the turf layer because they also have a Desso GrassMaster reinforcement system there. This is a specific sequence of technical operations with many special features. In our country, to be frank, there are not many clubs or companies that have such experience. We used it and our expertise to properly carry out the renovation.
- What kind of work is being carried out these days?
- This is a standard practice: we remove the existing pitch turf layer using our equipment and technology that we acquired in the UK and which we have been using all the time. Then we carry out the final levelling of the pitch turf surface. I suppose that late this week or early next week, they will start laying the pitch reinforcement system. Later, they will perform a series of technological operations before sowing the grass. That is, that’s not quite turf in rolls as we actually sow it, and then we need a break of at least about five weeks to let it grow it, perhaps, even amid the summer heat in Kyiv.
- The new season usually kicks off in mid-July ...
- That’s right. We expect that by the middle of July this pitch will already be in a fairly good condition, and by late July and early August it will be perfect, of excellent quality.
- What do we want to get if we compare those two pitches? What's the difference?
- A onlooker may not notice a dramatic difference, but an attentive viewer will notice that the pitch will have a uniform colour. If someone looks closer, especially when they watch an HD stream, they might notice some spots of light-green colour - this is the so-called annual bluegrass, in fact, a weed. Almost the entire surface of this pitch was affected by this weed. This always happens if they don’t change it once in a few years. First of all, we plan and expect that aesthetically the pitch will get much better and more beautiful, and functionally, which is of the greatest importance for the players, it will be ‘faster’ and of a higher quality, and most importantly it’ll be much more durable. This will directly affect the players' sensations and their ability to show their best playing qualities.
- How do you interact with the NSC Olimpiyskiy and with Dynamo? Did any questions cause controversy?
- No controversy at all - we work absolutely in unison so far. With the management of Olimpiyskiy we find understanding on all issues. I am sure that the Ministry of Youth and Sports in this case also understand the importance of this process. FC Dynamo management also support this idea, and not only support it, but actually took certain financial obligations to participate and invest in the project. So far, everything is going according to plan. The work is carried out primarily by the groundsmen of the NSC Olimpiyskiy, of course, with our participation. We’ve got the experience - we know how to do it, we have the technology and know how to control quality. And the client of this process is the NSC Olimpiyskiy. I want to express my gratitude and appreciation to the management for the fact that they understand the importance and are engaged in the implementation of this idea.
- Please tell us more about the technology and experience.
- At the Donbass Arena, we installed the pitch turf reinforcement system back in 2011. In 2013, we carried out the field renovation - in fact, the same operation as we do now, with certain peculiarities. At the same time, we purchased sets of equipment in the UK that allow you to properly cut off the turf layer and properly renovate the reinforced pitches. Then, at all stadiums starting with Arena Lviv and ending with OSK Metalist, we carried out renovations. In Kharkiv it was thorough, in fact, they also cut off the turf layer because they also have a Desso GrassMaster reinforcement system there. This is a specific sequence of technical operations with many special features. In our country, to be frank, there are not many clubs or companies that have such experience. We used it and our expertise to properly carry out the renovation.