By 
After 33 years, one of the oldest football clubs in Uganda Express FC announced that the famous Muteesa II stadium will no longer be it’s home following a shift to the refurbished Nakivubo Stadium now named after after it’s reconstruction bankroller Hamis Kiggundu ‘Hamz Stadium.’
Express FC unveiling their squad at new home, Hamz Stadium.
For the fans, this is a goodbye to more than three decades of memories and for players, a change of playing surface from natural grass to artificial turf, something not many footballers would wish for.
The lush green and flat turf is any television broadcasters dream for its pitch perfect picture on screen, and yet for the player this might be a crown of thorns.
Contrary to the way natural pitches are laid with different soil layers, turf is a carpet like composition of synthetic grass with rubber pallets to mimic soil is laid atop of a hard surface sometimes made of concrete.
Some players usually complain about discomfort in their knees and ankles after playing on turf for a while and however much we can’t put the entire blame on a surface, their arguments holds some water.
“Players get turf toe, an injury entirely blamed on these turfs. The friction causes non contact injuries to players and under heated temperatures, some turfs release a smell which causes breathing difficulties to players.” says Isaac Ssenoga the NEC FC team doctor.
His side is only one of the five that hosted their games on turf, at the MTN Omondi stadium which they shared with KCCA FC, Vipers SC at St Mary’s stadium in Kitende, Busoga United and BUL FC at Njeru technical centre. With the addition of clubs hosting at Hamz Stadium the number of league games to be plaid on the turf is expected to raise by atleast 30%.
Take an example example of you trying to fix a stick into soil, part of it will push the ground down which is different on a concrete surface onto which incase you force that stick further It will break.
That’s a basic explanation of the injury risk on turfs so if this stick is the players leg, when the body exerts pressure onto the surface during an activity like running, incase there isn’t enough shock absorption, pressure exerted on the lower body joints is sometimes more than they can handle hance the none contact injuries.
The commonest is on the Anterior Cruciate Ligament(ACL) in the knee, usually raptured in activities that require quick change in direction of motion, treatment is either by surgery or a 6-9months non-surgical rehabilitation.
Doctor Ssenoga says this surgery costs from 5-15million Ugandan shillings which is a hefty health bill for any average Ugandan footballer.
Ruben Kimera who played for Police FC whilst it hosted league matches in Lugogo says “We use a lot of energy to perform on the turf, if you’re keen enough you’ll notice that the temple of the game is slower on turf, it’slike there’sa force against you.
Former Uganda Police FC player Ruben Kimera.
“He was lucky not to have faced the knife but one of his former teammates who preffered anonymity did. “I spent 12million shillings on my surgery and more to support my full recovery which I’m still undergoing.”
Even with these live cases, the same injuries can happen on natural grass. But players argue that the turf exposes them to more risks.
Vipers SC Communications officer Abdu Wasike says the club hasn’t received any player complaints about turf rooted injuries but he noticed that players who return from injury usually request to train on natural grass for sometime before making a complete return.
Allan Okello warming up at the Artificial turf.
KCCA FC PR officer Moses Magero believes the problem is playing on the turf for longer than one should but the turf presents no scare when used sparingly;
Moses Magero, KCCA FC PR officer.
“We regulate the time our players spend on the turf, some training sessions are conducted from Kibuli SS with whom we have a partnership.”
Even clubs hosting at natural grass face a similar challenge, players have made it a habit to play on the new cropping 7aside pitches in their neighbourhood, usually a nice time to catch up with friends at night but retired footballer Yuda Mugalu who operates one of these at Henrys Sports Centre in Kabalagala highly advises active players against this.
Yuda Mugalu at the Henry’s sports centre, a artificial turf in Kabalagala.
“Turf isn’t good for any professional footballer’s health, I understand why one might make a case for them because I’m also running it as a business and it’s lucrative.”
Yuda Mugalu (white) playing for Vipers Legends at recently concluded Vipers day.
“They’re are easy to maintain, can withstand any weather conditions and handle busier schedules than natural grass.”
Former Uganda Cranes Captain Denis Onyango seemed not to be impressed with the idea of having an artificial turf at Hamz during an interview with Bukedde TV.
Dennis Onyango, leading out his teammates Mamelodi Sundowns.
“I played in Nakivubo during the start of my career and those were good times, I thank Hamis for refurbishing the stadium but professional players would prefer natural grass to turf on any day and so do I.”
“CAF stadium regulations regarding artificial turf also require FIFA approval which tests these turfs with a benchmark of a natural pitch in good condition under the FIFA Quality Programme for Football Turf.
Even with the risks at hand, the football industry in Uganda might not be able to handle costs of maintaining natural turf at the international standards, so authorities should find ways of working with them without putting players health on the line.
