The Lawson Tama Stadium in Honiara has been temporarily closed because of threat of fungi attack says turf manager Reuben Oimae.
The fungal problem was discovered early this week and forced Oimae to cancel scheduled matches at the pitch.
Oimae told Sun Sport that he and his team of grounsmen had taken necessary steps to avoid the spread of the myserty fungus to other parts of the field by
cordoning off the sections affected.
Oimae explained that his ground staff had spread fertilizer on the field to improve growth of grass however, when heavy rain fell over the weekend the affected area
of the Lawson Tama playing surface experienced water logging that resulted in fungi attacking the grass.
Oimae said if matches were allowed, there would be a high chance fungi will attack other parts if the field.
“To avoid the spread of this fungus, we have to contain the area in which the fungi has proliferated. It’s the only choice,” Oimae said.
The Honiara Football Association (HFA) Normalisation Committee met with Solomon Island Football Federation (SIFF) officials this afternoon to discuss the Lawson Tama
Stadium
closure issue and look at a complaint against Makuru FC.
Turf Manager Reuben Oimae wrote to HFA administrator Barnabas Loloito informing him about the temporary closure of Lawson Tama on Saturday.
“I received a letter from him mentioning that there would be no matches this week however teams were not informed,” says Loloito.
Marist and Uncles turned up at Lawson Tama on Tuesday, only to be told their match was off because the field was closed for maintenance.
Oimae assured committee members that Lawson Tama Stadium would reopen this Saturday with the two scheduled matches between Hana and Laugu and the main match between league leaders
Koloale and OFC O-League bound KOSSA to be played.
Story courtesy SIFF Media Officer Francis Pituvaka…