Response to OJ

[Sickko]

OJ re the mistake you made re the removal of the turf at Catherine Hall that was made into a political football by Clive Mullings.

First things first the Catherine Hall stadium's turf is grown on a bed of some synthetic material along with sand and dirt etc and grown on pallets that can be taken up and replanted elsewhere and if dont properly the grass grows back in little or no time.

The field at the national stadium was tough and even our own overseas based players used to complain about playing on it.

At the time the Cathertine Hall field was not being used by anyone and thus taking the sod from there to Kingston was in fact helping both facilities.

First it provided a much better surface for out football teams to play on and also it helped the Catherine Hall as the inactivity there caused the grass roots to growth thicker and choke the growth.

I keep asking those who were protesting the removal, that aside from the silly country vs town arguments that are stale, who was being denied the use of the field when the sod was removed???

[Assasin]

one question, why wasn't the field been used?

[OJ]

I dont disagree with your take on it, but more so why is it that they have let the ntl stadium field turn into cow pasture. Were they not gloating that it was one of the best surfaces.

[Tilla]

The field needs to be maintained and to think just giving it water is enough could not be further from the truth. Even if it rains daily, that would not be enough to ensure proper growth of the grass.

You have to fertilize, seed and water to keep the grass growing healthy. It would be good if they areate the soil occasionally too.

I was talking to a guy who worked as a grounds keeper at Kauffnam Stadium, home of the Kansas City Royals. I asked how they were always able to keep their outfield in such immaculate condition. He told me it was a full time job of maintenance.

Many people would think you do not need to seed fields as grass grows seeds naturally. Well, because we constantly cut these grass, they do not get the chance to grow seeds and regenerate. Constantly cutting grass prevents it from developing seeds which is a crusial piece of the regeneration process. This makes seeding a necessary part of keeping the grass looking healthy.

Anyway, grounds upkeep should not be taken for granted. It is full time work or if you let it go, it will turn into a bed of dead grass as we saw with the national Stadium on Sunday.

[Sickko]

I did not see the game and have no comment on the national stadium but you also need to take in mind we have had a lot of rain in the last two months and longer and all the fields in the island have taken a battering

[Sickko]

The field was not used then because the facility was not even half way completed, they did the field and the trcak and the fencing.

The field has since been heavily used but the construction has re started.

[OJ]

True, its the little thigns we dont do sometimes. We want millions to fix roads but no one understand let clear the drain and the gully and we will spend less. We want fields but we dont want to areate seed ect. We cant say for sure that Stadium was over used as we were playing football so there is no reason why the field is bumpy (means it needs rolling) or yellow which would mean its proably over fertilised as if you did nothing else with all this rain it should be good.

[Baddaz]

no excuse for the poor condition of the field with all that rain... fertilizer, lime, grass seed, aeration, roll and cut... thats all thats needed... even a novice like me know that...

[Gamma]

yuh need a proper drainage and foundation too...if yuh just throw grass pon di ground that is not good enuff!

[OJ]

yeah but the feel was pristine the last i saw it. How did it get so bad so fast considering its not heavily used?

[Mosiah]

Well, they had some primary school match on it the other day.

Seriously, how does any prep or primary school competition get to be played on the National Stadium field?!!?