KUALA LUMPUR – Former national football player Hardi Jaafar criticised the pitch condition at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium, calling it an embarrassment.
Hardi, who earned 29 caps with the national squad, questioned the management of the Malaysia Stadium Corporation (MSC) for the recurring issue of poor pitch conditions every year.
As the country’s premier stadium, he believes Bukit Jalil National Stadium should boast a top-quality field.
However, this expectation has yet to be met. This led Hardi to demand that MSC management, chaired by Datuk Hans Isaac, take full responsibility for this ongoing issue.
During yesterday’s match against Oman, Kim Pan-gon’s boys suffered a 0-2 defeat, placing them in a precarious position in Group D.
“From my playing days until now that I have retired, the stadium remains the same.
“What has the Stadium Corp done to address the pitch issue? They should provide a proper explanation to everyone.
“I feel deeply disappointed because we are capable of better. We once hosted the Youth World Cup in 1997, and all the stadiums back then (Shah Alam Stadium, Sarawak Stadium, and Darul Aman Stadium) had impeccable fields.
“But now…at Bukit Jalil, touted to have received expert turf management…it should be our country’s pride.
“However, with the current state of the grass, we might as well play at Merdeka Stadium. Despite being smaller, its field is better maintained.
“I believe Bukit Jalil stadium should undergo a one to two-year closure for field rehabilitation, ensuring that no activities take place during this period,” said Hardi.
In the wake of yesterday’s incident where Malaysian defender Azam Azmi Murad suffered a left knee injury after only 24 minutes of play, the critical issue of field quality has come to the forefront.
Hardi emphasised that a pitch in such poor conditions could easily lead to player injuries. He cited potential risks such as ACL (anterior cruciate ligament), PCL (posterior cruciate ligament), back, or ankle injuries due to hidden hazards like holes.
“There are significant injury risks associated with a poor-quality pitch. We can’t afford to have hidden hazards like holes that might lead to serious injuries,” Hardi remarked.
In response, Hardi suggested that MSC should take a page from the book of the Sultan Ismail Stadium in Johor and the Sultan Zainal Mizan Abidin Stadium in Terengganu – both known for their superior turf surfaces.
He believes that adopting similar field management approaches could pave the way for the national stadium to provide a safer and better playing field for future matches involving the Harimau Malaya squad.
“It’s time for the Stadium Corp to take concrete steps and ensure SNBJ meets the required standards,” Hardi concluded. – March 27, 2024