Merino Park Stadium

Location: De Aar, Northern Cape Completed: February 2021 Size: Soccer field: 6,300m² Netball courts: 2,592m² Building: 150m² Total size, excluding the 1.2km fence: 9,492m²

Trompie Sport was involved with the design and build of this extraordinary stadium located in De Aar. This was a community project, using sport to uplift the local community. The economic injection this project had on the community was incredible. More than 30 jobs were created for De Aar, and materials used for the project were sourced from local companies.

The scope of this project consisted of the following items:

• 1,200m perimeter fencing • FIFA-approved artificial soccer field. • Four netball courts • Building of ablution and changing rooms

Perimeter fence

The project was kicked off with the installation of a 2.4m high perimeter fencing that stretched more than 1.2km, which was a crucial first step to ensure that the facility is secure. The Smart View boundary fence consisted of a high durability industrial see-through mesh. The galvanised fence was covered with a layer of UV-treated PVC coating to better survive the harsh climates of the Northern Cape.

FIFA-approved artificial soccer field

The main attraction of this facility is the artificial soccer pitch. It was important to leave the community with an asset and that is why an artificial soccer field with minimal maintenance requirements was the preferred choice. Trompie Sport partnered with several leaders in the manufacturing of artificial grass and are the direct importers and exclusive wholesale distributors in Africa for various high-quality artificial turf brands. For this 105m x 60m pitch, Trompie used a 50mm pile FIFA-approved carpet to ensure that that the pitch complies with all the standards required to host local and even international tournaments. To ensure the safety of both the players and spectators, Trompie installed a 1.2m high modular galvanised fencing system with PVC coated mesh around the soccer field. This fencing system requires no welding on site which minimises rust. The pitch would not be complete without the spectator's stands – Trompie designed and built four spectators stands with a seating capacity of 200 people.

Netball courts

Netball is a popular sport in De Aar and the addition of four hard courts turned Merino Park into a world-class, multi-sport facility. Trompie Sport used state-of-the-art laser technology to build the base for the netball courts according to specifications set out by the consulting engineers. A properly constructed asphalt base was used as the foundation for these courts. The acrylic layering of the courts is done on top of the asphalt base to create a playing surface that is durable and able to withstand the weather conditions of De Aar.

The acrylic layers are ideal for courts because the non-slip properties of it is ideal for a sport like netball. The same modular fencing system was used to round off the courts. Trompie’s sports surfaces have been refined over 30 years of experience and offer players an optimum sports performance experience.

Ablution and changing rooms

A facility like this would be incomplete without proper ablution and changing room facilities. Trompie designed and constructed a 150m² ablution facility that can accommodate the players and spectators. With the soccer players and staff in mind Trompie designed separate changing rooms for the home team as well as the visiting team. Trompie also installed 24 steel lockers to ensure that the players have more than enough storage space for their kit and personal belongings.

More than 500 squares of paving were used to round off all the buildings and sports fields.

Challenges with the project

• The weather conditions in De Aar were one of the biggest challenges – the extreme temperature variations and high winds in De Aar made the installation process of both the soccer pitch and netball courts a difficult task.

• COVID-19 protocols – the project had strict deadlines, but thanks to good protocols implemented by Trompie there were no COVID-19 cases, and the project was completed in time.

About Trompie

With certification from international sports associations like FIFA, FIH, IAAF, and ITF, anyone who considers investing in sports infrastructure in Africa, can contact Trompie Sport for a design and build solution.

Trompie Sport is at the forefront of sport field construction. They have constructed over 2,000 multi-purpose courts, covered more than 15 million m² of natural grass sport fields. Trompie have also and constructed over 100 artificial sports fields for hockey and soccer and multi-purpose sports fields. Trompie is without a doubt the biggest name when it comes to sports field construction in Africa. Building a stadium is no small task and involves months of planning and coordination.

Contact: 018 292 1202 or trompie@trompiegroup.co.za

MEET THE TEAM:

Funding:

Lonyuan Mulilo Solar and Wind Projects

Beneficiaries:

Local Football Association, De Aar Municipality, General Public of the surrounding Communities.

Main Contractor:

Trompie Sport

Engineering Consultants:

Integrate Engineering