Kasarani and Nyayo stadium pitches have distinct looks.

Kenyans have voiced varied opinions regarding the different looks of Kasarani and Nyayo Stadium pitches and an expert has now shared why they are visibly distinct.

As the 2024 African Nations Championships (CHAN 2024) continues, fans in Kenya have noticed the difference in the playing surfaces at Kasarani and Nyayo Stadiums.

Kenya is hosting Group A matches and will also stage a quarter-final and the final with Kasarani and Nyayo being used for the fixtures.

However, there has been a visible difference in the look and quality of pitches at the two facilities and the consensus among fans is that Nyayo’s playing surface looks more pristine than that of Kasarani.

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According to an expert, this is because of the species of grass that has been laid at the two facilities for different purposes at the request of tournament organisers CAF.

The Kenyan government has revealed three security measures that will boost matchday experience at Kasarani and Nyayo Stadia during CHAN 2024.

“Kasarani has its challenges, right from the foundation,” Evergreen Horticulture CEO Moses Kivungi told AFC Leopards chairman Boniface Ambani when he sought to why the difference between the two pitches.

“Kasarani has a different species of grass. It has Bermuda grass and this [at Nyayo] is Kikuyu grass. Bermuda is finer-leaved, denser green. It was chosen by CAF because they felt it has better colour for television and all that,” Kivungi further explained, shedding light on why CAF chose the species at Kasarani Stadium.

He, however, recommends that Kenya should stick to Kikuyu grass as the weather conditions in the country favour it more than any other species.

“With Kikuyu grass, if you subject it to the proper growth condition; you don’t deny it water, food and mooing and you follow all the other cultivation practices properly, you will find Kikuyu grass will always outshine any other grass in our environment in Kenya,” he said.

The construction of Talanta Sports City Stadium has received a major boost, positioning Kenya to deliver a world-class venue for AFCON 2027.

“So, we should not rush for these other kinds. Like Bermuda is more or less semi-tropical but this [Kikuyu] is completely tropic grass. This should work better for us under the conditions here as long as you have ample quantities of water. More or less 25 millimetres of water per week.”

The two surfaces have been getting proper care before and during CHAN 2024 but there are fears that they could be neglected after the tournament.

Both Kasarani and Nyayo will now start hosting FKF Premier League matches next season with Leopards looking to move into the latter as it was their home before it was closed for CHAN 2024 renovations.

Harambee Stars defender Abud Omar has shared how he is spending his Ksh2.5 million bonus received from President William Ruto from their CHAN 2024 success.