Coach Serritslev Calls For Better Football Grounds
National football coach Flemming Serritslev is urging owners to lift the standard of sports grounds in their respective domain.
Serritslev made the comments while comparing the standard of football played at the ANZ National stadium to other pitches around the country.
“The ANZ stadium is really a pleasure to play and walk on unfortunately it is the only one here,” Serritslev said.
Football is also played at Lawaqa in Sigatoka, Lautoka’s Churchill Park, Nadi’s Prince Charles Park, Subrail Park in Labasa and Govind Park in Ba.
There are no more games at Ratu Cakobau Park in Nausori now that the landowners refuse to renew the Nausori Town Council lease.
Uprising Ground in Pacific Harbour is privately owned.
“This is a downside as not only fans are denied good football but also players cannot display the best of their abilities because ground conditions are not up to standard,” he said.
“Players need to consistently perform they can only do that if there are well maintained and good turfs around.
“I understand that the other grounds are maintained by municipalities I only hope they make an extra effort to upgrade grounds to improve competition.”
Despite his busy schedule preparing the national side of the World Cup qualifiers in Qatar Serritslev is impressed with the first of the Digicel Premier League competition.
“We have witnessed the first three DPL matches and the results were very interesting,” he said.
“The level of football has really changed and for me it is on a good level, they show the commitment from players and coaches.
“It is the first set of matches after a long break due to COVID.
DPL continue this weekend with a triple header at Churchill Park in Lautoka on Sunday.
Sunday fixtures start with the Nadi versus Nadroga match at 12 midday, followed by Lautoka versus Navua at 2pm, and then Ba taking on Suva at 4pm.
Other matches on Sunday see Tailevu Naitasiri take on Nasinu at the ANZ Stadium in Suva at 1pm.
Labasa will host Rewa at 1pm at Subrail Park on Saturday.
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