Page 12 - Landscape-Issue140

PROJECT

KING ZWELITHINI STADIUM

By Dr. Jonathan Foley

Project Team
Client: King Zwelithini Stadium
Landscape Contractor:
Conmar Horticulture
Turf Supervisor: Protus Khathi
Groundsman: Alfred Zulu

King Zwelithini Stadium is a multi-
purpose stadium in Umlazi, a township
south-west of Durban. It is used mostly
for football matches and was initially

intended as a training field for teams
participating in the 2010 FIFA World
Cup, after being renovated in 2010 and
brought up to FIFA standards.

ith a seating capacity of 10 000, the stadium is currently
home to the Richards Bay Football Club, which trains Aeration and decompaction with solid tines
Wthere weekly. AmaZulu FC matches are also hosted from
time to time and the grounds are also used by the Sharks Academy “The success of the King Zwelithini Stadium project is testament
for community outreaches. In addition to official match fixtures, to what is possible when everyone - municipality, community
the stadium is frequently used as a venue for political gatherings and landscapers - work towards a single goal. This stadium hosts
and events. 100 sports events a year. It caters for two premier soccer leagues’
teams, the odd rugby match, community events and school
Superb maintenance strikes double gold tournaments. Six TV cameras follow every soccer match and the
The stadium is owned and operated by eThekwini Municipality pitch must be perfect! On Monday there is a community game,
and the grounds are managed by Marcus Govender, CEO of and Tuesday is schools. With this amount of traffic, how is there
Conmar Horticulture. He received a double gold award as well as still grass on the pitch?”
the Stihl trophy for Best Landscape and Turf Maintenance at the
recent SALI awards ceremony held in Stellenbosch. The event was Scientific turfgrass management program
hosted by the South African Green Industries Council (SAGIC). Part of these rigorous horticultural practices involve:
Provincial SALI judges commented that despite the challenges • a full pitch maintenance contract to FIFA and premium soccer
of extended play periods and massive heat waves in mid-summer, league standards;
the contractor was able to deliver a first-class product thanks to • mowing of turf at least twice per week or as per fixtures; 20 mm
excellence in consistently applying a scientific turf management height using a self-propelled Protea HD914 cylinder mower;
program on a daily basis. In evaluating the project, SALI national • marking of white lines at least once a week or as per fixtures, using a
judge, Sbu Dladla stated: Supaturf TXE line marking machine and Supaturf turf paint;

10 Landscape SA • Issue 140 2024 Check us out www.salandscape.co.za