UK Company lands major African Pitches Contract

Mike Beardallin Industry News

Laying turf in Luzhniki Stadium Moscow with tractor in foreground.jpgThe company which installed the Moscow pitch for the EUFA Champions League cup final last year has won the contract to design and build all of the African Championship pitches for COCAN 2010 in Angola.

SIS (Support In Sport) has a won a 20million-dollar contract to design and build 15 natural grass pitches for the COCAN 2010 in Angola (African Championships).

The project was signed by chief executive officer George Mullan in Luanda with COCAN and the Ministry of Public Construction.

Mr. Mullan said: "This project opens up a new market for SIS in Africa and in particular Angola."

He spent three weeks visiting the venues and reviewing the plans with Daniel Ribeiro of GeoDesenho, a Portuguese company.

SIS, based in Cumbria and Ireland, presented a unique proposal for the championships, not only to design and build but also to maintain the pitches through the growing period and to the end of the championship.SIS laying turf on pitch at Luzhniki Stadium Moscow for Champions League Final 08.jpg

Mr Mullan commented: "Rather than just build the pitches we wanted to take ownership of the pitches through to the end of the tournament, this allows COCAN to focus on the tournament without concerns over the pitches.

"SIS has extensive experience in the maintenance of grass pitches."

This major project will begin in May with all pitches completed by the end of July.

SIS will take 22 employees to Angola to carry out the projects, split into three teams. Each team will be fully equipped with all the latest state-of-the art machinery required to build the pitches and to maintain them.

All of the stadium venues in Luanda, Bengula, Lubango and Cabinda will have SIS pitches, as well as the training centres and nursery pitches.

cocan 2010 logo.jpgAfter two separate visits to Angola, Mr Mullan said: "Angola is determined to deliver the best tournament with new stadiums, roads and hotels at each of the four venues.

"It is really impressive to see how this country is moving forward after the civil war which ended in 2002."

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