Why do Uzbek club stadiums quickly fall into disrepair?

Why are Uzbek club stadiums rapidly falling into disrepair?

Every year, the deterioration of the quality of grass at Uzbek stadiums becomes one of the most discussed topics among football fans and experts. The “Liga Minbari” podcast of the Uzbekistan Professional Football League (UzPFL) analyzed this very problem, its causes and solutions.

Uchkun Kuvonchev, a member of the UzPFL’s Stadium Working Group, answered the questions of the host Diyor Imamkhojayev about the condition of the stadiums in detail. According to the expert, maintaining the stadium grass in ideal condition is not just about watering. This requires complex agrotechnical measures carried out throughout the year.

“First of all, field maintenance is a continuous process. Timely application of fertilizers, specific work to be done in the winter, autumn or summer seasons should be strictly tied to the schedule. All this is directly related to the number of matches being played and weather conditions,” says Uchkun Kuvonchev.

80-90 percent of stadiums in Uzbekistan are built with an open surface. This leads to direct damage to the turf from the summer heat. It is noted that this year there have been periods when the air temperature has exceeded 50 degrees, which was a serious test for the turf. Nevertheless, no matter how hot the air temperature is, the field can be preserved with proper care and proper distribution of loads.

“If it is fed with high-quality feed and football matches are not held on the field during the hottest times, the grass can be preserved. We can cite the stadiums of the Karshi “Nasaf” and Fergana “Neftchi” clubs as an example. Even in heat exceeding 50 degrees, they were able to maintain the field in ideal condition. So, if agrotechnical rules are followed correctly, it is possible to overcome the vagaries of the climate,” explained the representative of the UzPFL.

During the conversation, the expert clarified which grass varieties are mainly used in stadiums in the climatic conditions of Uzbekistan. It was noted that in order to maintain the condition of the fields the same throughout the year, two types of grass are mainly used depending on the season.

The first of them is the “Poa pratensis” (meadow) variety, intended for spring, summer and autumn, which is very suitable for the local climate and can withstand heat of 40-45 degrees. In the winter, they use Lolium (ryegrass). This variety grows ideally at temperatures from +5 to 20 degrees Celsius, and also helps to maintain the green state of the field without dying even when the air temperature drops to zero or -1 degrees Celsius.