The field at Johannesburg’s legendary stadium, which hosted the 2010 World Cup final, is undergoing a major renovation. Although already fit for use, it will only reach full quality in September.

Test match: Kaizer Chiefs – Polokwane City

On Wednesday evening, August 13, FNB Stadium hosted the Betway Premiership season opener between Kaizer Chiefs and Polokwane City. Ahead of the game, Grobbelaar welcomed members of the South African Football Journalists Association (SAFJA), giving them a tour of the newly laid turf.

While the full effect of the seeding will take until September, entertainment cannot wait. More and more people are turning to places that deliver instant thrills. One of them is Sports Betting - a space offering a world-class experience where fans can play safely and compete for top rewards.

It deserves no explanation, but at the end of last season, we all saw that FNB Stadium pitch was not up to the normal standard, and with our pitch maintenance company Sport Turf, we then got international experts on the hybrid pitch model to come and advise us, Grobbelaar explained.

© Boogertman Urban Edge and Partners

Process shortened from four months to ten weeks

The original plan was to replace the surface only after the 2026 season. Specialists, however, determined that the old turf would not survive another campaign. The City of Johannesburg and the stadium management then opted for an accelerated renovation.

Work began on May 28. The old surface layer was removed, new sand brought in, fresh grass seeded, and the Grass Master system installed, stitching natural blades with synthetic fibers. Normally such a process takes four months, but this time it was completed in just ten weeks.

They started on 28 May and there's still a bit of work to be done [before tonight's match], but I'm really happy with what they achieved in this 10-week period, Grobbelaar stressed.

© John Karwoski (cc: by-nc-nd)

Full quality expected from September

Although the field is already playable, its best condition will come in a few weeks. On my assessment, weather depending and on advice from the experts, by the beginning of September it will be up to scratch, said the SMSA chief.

The City allocated a total of 17 million rand (about $935,000) for the renovation of both FNB Stadium and Orlando Stadium. According to Grobbelaar, the investment will allow the Nasrec venue to serve at least another 10–12 years.

It's truly an expensive exercise, hopefully this has breathed life into the pitch for another 10-12 years, if properly maintained, before you need to replace the desso fibres he concluded.