A first of its kind waterless AstroTurf was officially launched on Tuesday evening (19/3) at St. Andrew’s College, Bloemfontein. After the launch, the school’s first hockey team played against Queen’s College's first hockey team.

Twenty years ago, an area fondly known as “The Cabbage Patch” was identified as the perfect area to put the AstroTurf. Years later St. Andrew’s is the first school in South Africa to have a turf of this nature setting the benchmark for all other schools.

Tristan Norman (1st Team Hockey Captain), Brendan Jacobs (Chairman of the board), Cheryl Zietsman, Roland Rudd (Headmaster), and St. Andrew's primary school boy cutting the ribbon. Photo: Warren Hawkins

The pitch was blessed and opened with a prayer by Bishop Dintoe Letloenyane from the Anglican Church and Reverend Father Ashe Steenbok a member of staff at the school and the ribbon was cut by the hockey captain, the chairman of the board, member of staff, and the headmaster.

“When we broke ground on the 1st of June last year there was still skepticism on whether we would get this done. We have come a long way since those early days, but we did not do so alone,” said St. Andrew’s Chairman of the Board Brendan Jacobs.

Players of the St. Andrew's first hockey team. Photo: Warren Hawkins 

“We recognise and are mindful and thankful for the help of our brother and sister schools who have so loyally supported us over the years. I want to extend a special thanks to our headmaster Mr. Roland Rudd who led from the front with vision and passion to make this a reality in conjunction with the steering community.”

The pitch is possibly the world’s first International Hockey Federation or FIH-certified, dry innovation 11-a-side hockey pitch. It is also the same one that will be played at this year’s Paris Olympics. Lastly, it is a sustainable pitch with green technology.

Brendan Jacobs (Chairman of the board), Roland Rudd (Headmaster), Deon Morgan (FIH Africa Executive), Tiaan van der Merwe (Trompie COO), and Ashley Appleby (Polytan International Sales Manager). Photo: Warren Hawkins 

The FIH Africa Executive Deon Morgan awarded a certificate to the school for not just having a vision but also executing it.

OFM News/Zenande Mpame dg