Menpora Advises The Surabaya City Government To Replace The GBT Stadium Grass According To FIFA Standards

Menpora Zainudin Amali/ Photo: Antara

SURABAYA - Indonesian Minister of Youth and Sports Zainudin Amali reminded the Surabaya City Government to replace the grass at the Gelora Bung Tomo Stadium (GBT) according to FIFA standards for the holding of the World Cup final round for the age group below 20 (U-20).

"Because the world football federation FIFA has appointed the GBT Stadium as one of the venues or venues for the 2023 U-20 World Cup finals," he told reporters after conducting an inspection at the Surabaya GBT Stadium, Saturday night, October 15.

As the person in charge of organizing the U-20 World Cup finals, which next year will take place in Indonesia, the Menpora conducted an inspection of readiness at six venues that have been approved by FIFA.

Apart from GBT Surabaya, the other five stadiums are Gelora Bung Karno Jakarta, Gelora Sriwijaya Palembang, Si Jalak Harupat Bandung, Manahan Solo and Captain I Wayan Dipta Gianyar.

On that occasion, the Minister of Youth and Sports saw the entire GBT Stadium infrastructure, starting from the place where players came by bus, entering the dressing room, to the stands.

The location of the GBT Stadium, which is adjacent to the final disposal site (TPA) of garbage, admitted that the Menpora was feared to be an obstacle to being approved by FIFA as a venue for the U-20 World Cup finals.

"I deliberately came to GBT in the afternoon because the information at this hour showed a bad smell. It turned out that it had been a few hours since I was here safely. This means that the handling of the Mayor and friends in the Surabaya City Government is so serious that we don't feel any smell," he said.

Overall, Menpora Zainudin assessed that the GBT Stadium is ready to be used as a venue for the U-20 World Cup finals next year.

"There are only small notes that need to be improved, one of which is the quality of grass on the GBT Stadium field which is not yet FIFA standard," he said.

The Minister of Youth and Sports confirmed that in the near future President Joko Widodo will issue a Presidential Decree (Kepres) related to renovations at six venues for the U-20 World Cup finals.

Meanwhile, the Mayor of Surabaya, Eri Cahyadi, while waiting for the Presidential Decree, which is expected to be issued at the end of October 2022, stated that he is ready to renovate the grass at the GBT Stadium according to FIFA standards.

"The renovation budget is waiting for the Presidential Decree. Of course what the quality of the grass is, how much per meter has been determined in the Presidential Decree. We are just waiting," he said.

Eri Cahyadi also said that apart from having to repair the grass, he would also renovate the emergency stairs at the GBT Stadium for the safety of the audience.

"All renovations will be monitored directly by the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing. Maybe FIFA will also monitor it because it is already based in Jakarta," he said.