Gallo
The pitch at Durbans Moses Mabhida Stadium was flooded by torrential rain during the Nedbank Cup last 32 match between AmaZulu and Ajax Cape Town, calling an abrupt end to the match. Picture: Gallo Images
Drainage at Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium has been criticised after the match between Ajax Cape Town and Amazulu had to be abandoned in Sunday’s torrential rain.
Monday night’s draw for the round of 16 of the Nedbank Cup had 17 teams because during the second half of the match conditions became unplayable. Ajax was in the lead 2–1 with 14 minutes left.
The match is scheduled to be replayed at KwaMashu’s Princess Magogo Stadium at 7.30pm on Tuesday night.
Vuma Mfeka, a soccer analyst, and former Amazulu FC goalkeeper said the flooding had raised questions about the stadium’ s drainage system.
“I was at the grounds before the Fifa World Cup in 2010 and they kept digging and digging,” he said.
“I could see that this would be a problem in the future.
“We are lucky that we did not experience that type of rainfall during the World Cup because it would have been an embarrassment.”
Mfeka said he had played at many soccer grounds during his time as a professional player.
“What happened on Sunday is very dangerous and it’s unfair. This is supposed to be a state-of-the-art stadium yet it can’t handle rain. Ajax as a team and their fans must be disappointed and disheartened.”
He added that the drainage systems of stadiums like Umlazi’s King Goodwill Zwelithini could handle rain.
The stadium’s general manager, Imraan Mahomed, issued a statement on Moday, saying the rainfall was so heavy that some members of the media had not been able to read the players’ numbers from their seats.
“As the downfall got worse players struggled to see or keep their balance. With 14 minutes to go, the referee suspended play to consult the match officials and stadium management on the weather conditions,” said Mohamed.
He said the sand-based pitch was designed to drain, with the water flowing outwards away from the playing surface.
“The drainage is designed and specified in accordance with international design standards for Fifa-approved pitches,” he said.
“Under extremely heavy rain, play may be suspended for safety reasons and resuming play is dependent on the length of time of the high intensity rainfall and the match competition rules.”
Asked how the stadium could prevent Sunday’s incident from happening again, he said: “We cannot control the weather.”
On Twitter, Carol Tshabalala said: “Drainage system at Moses Mabhida Stadium is bad.” Meanwhile @Superjourno posted: “Moses Mabhida drainage system is a shocker.”
Ajax spokesman Thabiso “Shoes” Meketu said it was “one of those things that cannot be controlled”.
Meketu said complaining would not help. “We would have loved to close down the game and win… It appeared that the drainage could not handle the amount of water.”
Phil Russell, a cricket groundsman who worked at the stadium, said the facility was state of the art and the water and rainfall must have been “exceptional” to stop the game. – The Mercury
