PETALING JAYA: Malaysia can look to how London’s iconic Wembley Stadium is managed when deciding how the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil might be put to the absolute best use, says former soccer worldwide Stanley Bernard.
Bernard, CEO of Kuala Lumpur City FC, mentioned Wembley, the house floor of the English national soccer workforce, is used for a number of occasions, together with concert events and rugby matches, however by no means faces points with the situation of its pitch.
Likewise, our national stadium’s pitch should at all times be in tip-top form, he mentioned, it doesn’t matter what the Malaysia Stadium Corporation places it to make use of for, whether or not primarily for soccer or additionally for different occasions comparable to concert events.
“The status of the nation is at stake,” he instructed eNM in response to intense criticism over the situation of the pitch in the course of the World Cup qualifier between Malaysia and Oman on Tuesday.
Bernard additionally mentioned a pitch in wonderful situation might give an added benefit to the national workforce in residence matches particularly with the gang rallying behind Harimau Malaya.
Last November, the stadium turf suffered harm following a live performance by the British pop group Coldplay performed in entrance of a reported 75,000 crowd.
The state of the pitch, planted with zeon zoysia grass, grew to become a scorching subject once more after a video and pictures exhibiting a broken turf emerged following a live performance by Ed Sheeran on Feb 24.
On Monday, each Malaysia and Oman have been prevented from conducting coaching classes on the pitch following heavy rain, drawing criticism from national coach Kim Pan-gon.
After the workforce’s 0-2 loss to Oman, the stadium company mentioned it should conduct a autopsy assembly with the stadium’s consultants and contractors to debate the state of the pitch.
Former worldwide James Wong advised that the Football Association of Malaysia determine various venues for worldwide matches within the occasion the National Stadium just isn’t in high form.
Wong, who scored the successful objective to safe Malaysia’s qualification for the 1980 Olympic Games, mentioned Malaysia has soccer stadiums with wonderful enjoying surfaces, such because the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium owned by Johor Darul Ta’zim, and Likas Stadium in Sabah.
“If we wish to host a global match, we should always have the perfect amenities accessible. That’s a part of our accountability as host,” he mentioned.
He additionally mentioned all non-football actions on the National Stadium ought to be suspended quickly to permit the pitch to get well.
