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Making Tiny Tuvalu into a Football Giant

In the last post, we told you about Tuvalu, a country that is so small, they have no place to land a jumbo jet, but with dreams so big that they are getting ready to apply to the FIFA for membership.

Paul Driessen is the marketing and communications manager for the Tuvalu Football Association. He is part of a committee that meets in the Netherlands every month to discuss elevating Tuvalu’s position on the sport’s food chain. Driessen has some very concrete steps he believes Tuvalu should take if they are going to succeed on the world stage.

Driessen sees FIFA membership as crucial. It would help Tuvalu have more money to spend on its football program, and give them more reasons to improve things such as their infrastructure.

One of the biggest things, and one we obviously agree with here, is that Tuvalu needs a pitch with an artificial playing surface. Artificial pitches have proven themselves to be the best way to have a field that is always playable, with minimal maintenance costs.

According to Driessen, Tuvalu’s current, natural grass facilities aren’t even good enough for effective practice. An artificial pitch is available for practice and games, 365 days a year. Also, artificial pitches always look good. While looks might not have much to do with playability, they mean a lot when projecting a positive image to the rest of the world.

The other huge component in Driessen’s vision for the future is that he feels Tuvalu must import someone from Europe to head the program on the field.  Driessen believes that someone from Europe would help Tuvalu “think in a professional way.”

Driessen uses Tahiti as an example. Tahiti won the OFC Nations Cup this year, which was the first time anyone but Australia or New Zealand has won. Driessen gives much of the credit to French coach Patrick Jaquemet, who has been coaching the Tahitian team for ten years now.

Driessen’s solution: Tuvalu should hire Dutchman Foppe de Haan. De Haan won the UEFA European Championship in 1988, and Driessen feels he is the right man to help Tuvalu transition into FIFA membership.

Driessen sees many other stumbling blocks, such as the lack of world class facilities on the island, but believes that a great on-field product would take Tuvalu a long way.

Tuvalu Prepares Determined Bid for FIFA Membership

Tuvalu is small: very small. It has the smallest population of any country in the world. It is an archipelago measuring 26 square kilometres, consisting of a string of small islands, and has a population of barely 12,000. It is so narrow that large passenger jets can’t even land on its runway. It is so small that it would be only a small dot on a world map. It has exactly one football pitch, and the national team has never played an official home match.

So, what are they going to do? Apply to the FIFA for membership, of course. Tuvalu holds the honour of being the only non-FIFA member in the world to ever take part in a World Cup qualifier. This happened when they qualified for the South Pacific Cup, which is also the first preliminary qualifying stage for the World Cup in Oceania.

It is facetiously rumoured that if one drilled a hole, straight down into the earth, and came out the other side from Tuvalu, they would end up somewhere near Eindhoven, the Netherlands. It so happens that Eindhoven is the place where between 5 and 9 people hold what is called the “Tuvalu Meeting” every month.

The meeting includes a graphic designer, a stats man, a social media specialist, and a journalist who discuss how to help football in Tuvalu progress to the world stage. Paul Driessen, Tuvalu Football Association marketing and communications manager, told Insideworldfootball that Tuvalu has desired FIFA membership since 1987.

Besides their lack of a venue or amenities fit for the world stage, Tuvalu also faces budgetary constraints, with what Driessen described as a “very small budget to compete… every one, two, or three years.” Tuvalu’s domestic football league has eight clubs, and they play for the Independence Cup and the Christmas Cup every year.

Tuvalu’s main problem, though, is financial: they can barely afford to play games in nearby Fiji. Even flying to other countries on Oceania is cost-prohibitive. Driessen sees membership in the FIFA as one of two elements crucial to the island’s success in football. The other: an artificial pitch. Driessen wants an artificial pitch for Tuvalu for two reasons. First, the current field is not in good enough shape. Second, the maintenance would cost a lot less.

In the next post, we will give you Driessen’s vision for Tuvalu’s success.

Victoria Police Football Team Donates Artificial Pitch to Hanoi Orphanage

A lot of football teams from Australia pass through Hanoi, and many of them visit the Birla Children’s Village, which currently feeds, clothes, and houses 78 boys and 62 girls. It has become a tradition of sorts for visiting police teams to make donations to the orphanage, usually in the form of clothing or sports equipment.

Last month, though, there was a special opening ceremony for an artificial football pitch. The pitch was partially funded by the Victoria police, and partially funded by the Hilton Hanoi Opera Hotel. The Australian donations were handled by the Australian embassy, which encourages the donation of any books, toys, clothing, or miscellaneous items from Australians on holiday in Hanoi.

The gift was seen by some as more for the boys, but a lot of girls play soccer in Hanoi, especially at the orphanage. Some of the girls also use the field for dancing gymnastics, and put on what was called a “spectacular display” at the opening ceremony.

The village itself currently has four houses, which each accommodate up to 40 children, ages 3 to 18. The Vietnamese Government pays each staff member at the village $120 a month, while they contribute $40 a month for each child. Of the $40, $35 goes to food, which leaves just $5 a month for anything else the children might need, including doctor visits.

So, why is an artificial football pitch such a great donation? There are two great financial reasons. First of all, the maintenance requirements are almost non-existent, which means it is actually less expensive to have the artificial pitch than it was for their natural pitch and playground. Also, the orphanage now has a very nice pitch that they can rent to others in the area if they want.

We’re very happy for the kids and staff at Birla Children’s Village, and would like to thank the Victoria Police, the Hilton Hanoi Opera Hotel (who contributed majority of the artificial turf), and all who donated money, time, or effort to making the pitch a reality.

We know that having a beautiful pitch that will stay green all of the time will be a great morale booster and a source of pride to everyone at the orphanage. Times may still be tough for some, but it’s great to see that many Australians still offer their time and money to help others.

Finally, the FA Allows Synthetic Pitches for FA Cup Qualifying Rounds

In a decision with far-reaching implications, the FA Cup Committee has announced that they will allow synthetic pitches to be used during FA Cup qualifying rounds. Artificial pitches are now allowed in all competitions up to the First Round Proper.

The FA Cup is the latest of a long line of FA competitions to allow artificial pitches, including the FA Carlsberg Vase, the FA Carlsberg Trophy, the Women’s FA Cup, the Sunday Cup, and the County Youth Cup.

A lot of discussion went into the decision: the FA itself, the Professional Footballers’ Association, the Premier League, and the League Managers Association. The FA went as far as to allow fans to comment and take part in a survey on their website.

Accrington Stanley Chief Executive Rob Heys has been one of the more outspoken advocates to the return to artificial turf.  He called the decision a “good step,” said he was “very pleased,” and called the decision an indication that one of sport’s oldest leagues is “very forward thinking.” Heys also cited a major drop over the last few years in opponents to the switch.

Artificial playing surfaces were originally banned by the FA in 1988. At that time, artificial turf was still in its infancy, using basically the same technology as Astroturf, which was introduced in the US in 1964, and is generally credited as being the first artificial playing surface.

Playing on artificial turf during the 1980’s was almost like playing on cement, and the turf looked more like a bad carpet than actual grass. It was notorious for causing injuries, and causing unnatural bounces in every sport for which it was used. The ban made sense at the time, because too many players were getting injured, and the surface affected the integrity and results of the games.

In this era, though, artificial turf looks, feels, and plays almost exactly like natural grass. It is much softer, and doesn’t cause any more injuries than natural turf does. We like it even better than natural grass, because it provides a more consistent surface, especially in inclement weather. When it rains, a natural surface can turn to mud quickly. Huge clods of grass are pulled up, and the field can become a quagmire.

When it rains on an artificial surface, the surface remains consistent, and the water drains very effectively. There are no bare spots, and there is no mud: just a nice, soft, consistent, green pitch.

Besides providing a more consistent playing surface, artificial turf costs a lot less to maintain and can be used more often. If a community pays for a natural pitch, it is often used only for matches, but has to be maintained year around. The costs for maintaining a natural pitch can often be astronomical.

With synthetic turf, maintenance is a breeze. It doesn’t have to be cut, and it doesn’t need chemicals. It doesn’t need to be reseeded after a hot spell or a game played on a wet field. This cuts the costs immensely.

Better yet, since the surface remains consistent, and isn’t really affected much by wear and tear, communities can get 365 days of use a year out of an artificial pitch if they want to. This can provide a lot of revenue for a community, and the turf not only pays for itself, but can help communities turn a tidy profit under the right circumstances.

So, what does this mean back home in Australia? It means that the most important regional body in football, and the one most resistant to change, is on its way to giving the OK to artificial pitches. When the FA speaks, the entire football world listens.

We have a lot of passion for synthetic grass here at Green Planet Grass. We have put a lot of time and energy into providing the best possible synthetic surfaces, whether for home, industrial, or sports use. We make a product that is better for the environment, and is easier to maintain. We know that our surfaces look better and play better than natural grass.

Someday, we would like to see synthetic pitches become the norm instead of the exception. There are simply too many benefits to ignore, and virtually no negatives. Whether it’s for football, tennis, or your front lawn, we feel that we have the best synthetic turf, not only in Perth, but anywhere in Australia.

Homeowners Combat Drought by Installing Synthetic Grass

When it comes to synthetic lawns, Perth isn’t the only place that sees hot, dry seasons that produce drought conditions. Today’s artificial grass story comes from Great Britain, which has also seen drought conditions. In Great Britain, local governments enforce what they call a “hosepipe ban.” This is usually called “watering restrictions” in most other English-speaking countries, but the idea is the same.

Earlier this year, most of the eastern part of England was officially in drought, and homeowners were threatened with fines of £1,000 for watering their lawns. New housing developments weren’t being planted with grass or trees because the owners knew they wouldn’t be able to keep them alive.

Consequently, many homeowners decided to install artificial lawns. According to popular English newspaper “The Telegraph,” two of England’s leading providers of artificial lawns saw sales double this spring, as homeowners fought the drought with lawns that don’t need water.

One company was overloaded to a point of putting down 60 lawns a week. Even garden designers started installing fake grass after an artificial grass garden won an award in Chelsea in 2010. Tony Smith, designer of the award-winning garden, stated that artificial grass looks a lot more real than it used to, and cited the fact that it is not only more environmentally friendly than tarmac, but also helps control flooding due to its even drainage patterns.

Smith said that most natural lawns are a “monoculture” – this means they are not biologically diverse. Consequently, no species is being threatened when using artificial grass instead of natural grass. Smith also cited the fact that no water is wasted on lawns, and no chemicals or fertilisers are routinely sprayed onto fake grass as they are on natural lawns.

Academics in England have gone so far as to predict that, in the future, as the climate gets drier and hotter, natural lawns will become a sign of “moral decadence” due to the unacceptable amount of water it will take to maintain a natural lawn properly.

We don’t know about “moral decadence,” but we definitely agree that artificial lawns make more sense, whether in Perth or England. We’ll leave the predictions to the “experts” and stick with what we know: whether you are in a drought or not, it certainly costs a lot less to maintain an artificial lawn.

Green Planet Grass provides Australian-made, quality synthetic turf for residential and commercial purposes. We are experts in synthetic grass, synthetic tennis courts and acrylic sports surfaces installation. Contact us today for more information.

Article from Environmentalist Says Artificial Turf is Greener than Natural Grass

When you think of the “green movement” the last thing you think of is artificial grass. You usually think of natural grass, flowers, or people who tirelessly recycle everything that is recyclable, and don’t ever think of having anything artificial in their lives. Environmentalists spend a lot of time trying to determine how our actions affect our environment, and come out swinging against anything that has a negative effect.

Consequently, when a professional writer with an admitted and documented environmentalist bias writes that artificial turf can be “greener” than natural grass, one simply must stand up and take notice. Maureen Gilmer, in a column published in the Orange County Register, did exactly that last month.

The article cites some basics about artificial turf. According to Gilmer, the first artificial turf products were anything but “green.” They didn’t look or feel like natural grass, and they damaged the environment by killing everything beneath them. She cites the old products as having deprived the ground beneath of both moisture and oxygen, killing not only microbes, but nearby trees, whose roots could not survive due to the lack of moisture.

We have to agree that she is correct about the older products from when the industry was new. We also applaud Gilmer for checking her facts and doing her research this time around. She found that the newer materials allow both moisture and oxygen through to the ground, and she likes the new appearance and aesthetics of the turf.

She even goes so far as to cite artificial turf as being a “perfect solution” for towns where regulations require that all drainage be on site instead of into a storm drain. The article also talks about the fact that artificial turf saves a lot of water from being wasted on lawn maintenance, and removes the need for fertilisers and other chemicals routinely used on natural turf.

She also likes the fact that the artificial grass now looks so real, and that it is not only environmentally “green,” but literally greener from a colour perspective.

We would like to applaud environmental writer Maureen Gilmer for reaffirming what we already knew: the grass really is greener on the other side, as long as the other side is made of artificial turf.

Green Planet Grass is a Perth synthetic lawn specialist. We specialise in artificial turf installation for residential and commercial clients. Call us today for a free quote.

International Rugby Board Holds Artificial Turf Conference

In the interest of boosting their “One Turf” programme, the International Rugby Board recently held a conference concerning artificial turf. The conference lasted for two days, and many sporting federations gave presentations on artificial turf, including the IRB, the NFL, FIFA, International Hockey Federation, and the Gaelic Athletic Association. Also present were university researchers, test institutes and synthetic turf manufacturers.

“One Turf” was launched in December 2010, with a mission to benefit the global Game by coming up with a standardised solution for those wishing to install artificial sports surfaces. Their main work, IRB Regulation 22, is designed to determine one manufacturer who will create, install, and maintain surfaces deemed to be compliant with the regulation.

The main focus was the challenges and benefits of creating a synthetic surface that can be utilised for virtually all sports. The IRB has been the main proponent of creating “One Turf” for all sports, because they feel that they can further not only their own sport, but all sports, by creating a single, multi-purpose, and artificial sport surface that works for everyone.

The IRB feels that a great all-purpose surface would encourage more participation in all sports. The Technical Services Head of IRB, Steve Griffiths, is excited about the conference: “We are delighted… to welcome so many industry experts and representatives of sports federations… we want to develop the very best surfaces for players…to enjoy Rugby and other sports safely, whatever the conditions.”

Griffiths also commented that he is impressed with the progress the programme has made, not only in development, but in the cooperation and partnership between different sports to help make it possible.

Professor Richard Kent attended as a representative of the NFL. According to Kent, “Player safety must drive the decision-making processes.” Kent feels that conferences like this one are important because they allow governing bodies of various sports to share both data and anecdotal knowledge.

Each sport represented gave presentations on how synthetic surfaces relate to their respective sports. A major sporting goods retailer also made a presentation on which shoes are the best for different kinds of artificial turf.

The presenters also covered injuries in every sport. The cause and prevention of injuries is a priority, and many of the presenters collaborated on a working document covering the needs of each sport.

Whilst we don’t agree with a “one manufacturer,” model, we are certainly in support of better research and development of all synthetic surfaces. Green Planet Grass is a Perth synthetic grass expert, with many years experience in sports surfaces installation. Call us today on 9240 8448 for a free measure and quote.

Tips on How to Keep Your Synthetic Grass Clean

While synthetic lawn requires less maintenance than natural grass, it is essential that you keep the installation in good condition. That being said, it takes a lot less effort, and it doesn’t require you to expend natural resources or run a lawn mower. Here is a guide on how to keep your artificial lawn clean.

Post-installation care

During the first few months, there will be some settling of the artificial lawn. During the installation of Green Planet Grass lawn, the installer ensures an even distribution of infill materials, and it will take about two to three months for the new surface to reach its optimum condition.

As the infill penetrates and settles, you will have to provide some light grooming. The best way is to brush lightly and avoid heavy brush strokes, because they can interfere with the natural settlement of your new lawn.

Occasionally, some infill materials migrate to the surface of your artificial lawn. You can easily remedy this with light brush strokes, which also help the top fibres remain erect. On any sports surface, you will have to brush your artificial grass on a regular basis. The purpose is to maintain the vertical direction of the synthetic turf pile.

This is especially important on sports lawns because the soft fibres are more exposed than those in other synthetic lawn systems. We recommend that you brush at least once a month, and in various directions. However, on landscaping lawns, you only need to brush for weed control, or when removing organic matter.

Pollen, Dust, and Airborne Pollutants

Your artificial lawn will be exposed to pollen, dust, and other airborne pollutants. Usually, natural rainfall is enough to take care of them. However, you will occasionally need to flush trouble spots with water. For light soiling, you can use a sponge mop with a 5% solution of any mild, low-sudsing household detergent in warm water, followed by a warm water rinse. If the area is heavily soiled, you can add a disinfectant and use a slightly stronger detergent, once again followed by a warm water rinse.

Debris

Your artificial lawn will also be subject to debris from time to time. On your interactive surface, you should remove it regularly, at least once a month, by hand or with brushing. It is very important that you avoid allowing organic matter to build up in the turf structure, because it will encourage weed growth and affect your drainage pattern.

Weeds, Moss, and other Vegetation

We recommend that you use a water-based, systemic moss or weed killer on your artificial lawn at least once a year.  When weeds die off, you should remove all dead matter, including the roots. When moss dies off, it can be easily swept off the turf surface.

Stains

The biggest rule here is the same one your mother told you about your clothes: the sooner you start, the easier it is to remove the stain. Synthetic grass is manufactured to be highly resistant to stains, but the fibres are of a different chemical composition than the rest of the turf. Consequently, there are two groups of cleaning agents for your artificial lawn.

The first group is those that can be used liberally, directly on the surface. The first group includes a mild solution of low-sudsing detergent designed for fine fabrics, or a mild solution of granular household detergent. This works out to a teaspoon of detergent to a half litre of water for standard, waterborne stains. For tougher stains, you can use a 3% solution of ammonia in water.

Whichever cleaner you use, you should always rinse thoroughly with warm water. This will remove the chemical residue of your cleaner. Stains which respond well to the first group of cleaners include tomato sauce, coffee, tea, fruit juice, butter, vegetable juices, soft drinks, alcoholic beverages, milk, water colours, latex paint, cocoa, ice cream, mustard, blood, urine, dyes, and glue.

The second group of cleaners include grease spot removers and mineral spirits. Stains for which you will need these include motor oil, grease, lipstick, floor wax, shoe polish, cooking oil, chewing gum, ballpoint ink, suntan oil, nail polish, tar, and crayon.

Animal Droppings

Remove all animal droppings immediately and wash the area down with hot tap water mixed with a household detergent. Equal amounts of water mixed with white vinegar will work, too.  The area should immediately be flushed with water.

Give Your Commercial Establishment a Makeover With Synthetic Grass

We know that all businesses, large and small, operate a lot “closer to the bone” than they did even ten years ago. This means that those who work at any given establishment usually have most of their days “planned” for them well in advance, as most companies have trimmed the fat off of their payrolls during the last few years.

So, who is responsible for landscaping and lawn maintenance at your company? Is it a middle manager who already has a lot on his or her plate? Is it you, the owner, trying to juggle it among many, more important activities vital to keeping your business going the way you want it from day to day?

Whoever it is, they probably don’t want to do it. They probably see it as necessary, but want to spend as little time on it as possible. Consequently, it probably looks okay, but it isn’t one of those eye-popping properties that make people want to stop by just to check out a business with such a great lawn.

So, the next time you make that call to have your lawn maintained, whether it is handled in-house or contracted, why not call us here at Green Planet Grass and see what we can do for you?

At Green Planet Grass, we offer a far-reaching range of synthetic grass systems for literally any commercial or residential use. We have installed playing surfaces for all sports from cricket to soccer to tennis to lawn bowls, and even putting greens and synthetic grass tees.

We can provide lush, green lawns for standard commercial properties or businesses that have smaller lawns. Whether it’s a façade for a large manufacturing plant, or a small shop, we can provide a solution that looks great 365 days a year and costs almost nothing to maintain. No more tractors, part-time employees, or noisy contractors who always seem to come at the worst possible time.

We know that everyone’s time is important, and everybody’s lawn is important. We execute all jobs, big and small, with the same exacting attention to detail and commitment to customer satisfaction that our clients have come to expect.

Call us today for a free estimate. You might be pleasantly surprised at how economical and easy it is to have synthetic grass for your business.

Why Spring is a Great Time to Install Synthetic Grass

Another winter is over. Soon, for many of you, your grass will begin to turn from various shades of brown to a lush green. But with that green comes a lot of work. While the smell of fresh-cut grass might be great for an hour or two, it also means that it took time and energy out of your day to make it that way. And the smell is usually mixed with petrol fumes from your lawnmower.

Spring also means showers. Unfortunately, on natural grass, showers mean mud and brown spots. They mean seemingly exponential growth in some patches, while others have no grass at all. For many natural grass lawns, spring means fertilising and “touch-up” seeding to make your lawn look as good as or better than the one next door.

It also means grass clippings and decisions. Do you want to leave the clippings where they are and hope they create a self-mulching lawn, or do you want to bag them? Do you want to throw them away, or use them to mulch in the garden?

Not only are you expending a lot of time and energy, but you are also spending money on lawn equipment and petrol. You can hire someone else to do it, but that can be expensive, and sometimes it’s difficult to find someone to do a good job for a fair price.

When you add it all up, wouldn’t it just be easier to install a nice, lush, green synthetic lawn? You pay for the lawn once, and then you can pretty much forget about maintenance costs, and forget about spending your valuable time maintaining a lawn that only looks its best on occasion.

Why spend your spring working on the lawn, when you can just let us install a fake lawn and not have to worry about it again? Your lawn will be the same colour year around. You can spend the time and energy you used to spend on maintaining your lawn doing things that YOU really want to do.

You will have a soft, perfect-looking lawn on which to enjoy your favourite outdoor activities.

A lot of people feel that spring is the best time of the year. Why spend it trying to get your lawn into shape when you can just have us install a beautiful synthetic lawn instead?

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