Will there be a new pitch at Stožice soon? The eternal derby postponed and dissatisfied Zoran Zeljković

Published on 16. February 2024 16. February 2024

Photo: Vid Ponikvar / Sportida

The pitch at Stožice has seen quite a lot this season, from the Slovenian national team qualifying for Euro 2024 to the disastrous condition during the Conference League match against Lille. In the meantime, they tried to improvise with sand as a covering, but unfortunately, it didn’t prove to be the best alternative.

“I won’t say that they (stadium managers, Šport Ljubljana, note) aren’t trying, but the pitch is not in the condition I as a coach desire. When we play at home, we mostly face a closed formation, and the pitch is even slower due to the sand. The ball starts bouncing, and mistakes happen. But I always emphasize – it is what it is, and we have to adapt. Unfortunately, we didn’t this time,” said Zoran Zeljković after the first match of the spring part in the Prva Liga Telemach.

Zoran Zeljković Photo: Nik Moder / Sportida

In recent times, they have tried to revive the grass surface at the stadium with the help of modern technology, but it is unfortunately so worn out that it simply needs to be completely replaced. The renovation was planned for the fall, but due to the constant need for using the venue, there simply wasn’t enough time.

“The grass surface at the football field of the Stožice Stadium needs to be completely replaced, as it is no longer possible to achieve satisfactory results with renovation and extraordinary maintenance. The procedures for the public tender for the revitalization of the grass surface are currently underway. The renovation will be carried out in accordance with the legal deadlines tied to the completion of the tender. During this time, we will continue to use all possible procedures to ensure the best possible condition of the surface in question,” revealed the stadium managers for sportklub.

In the coming weeks, the pitch of the country’s largest stadium will undergo a thorough revitalization, meaning that the managers will primarily address the most damaged parts. However, in the desire for the pitch to be in the best possible condition for the March spectacle, when Portugal with Cristiano Ronaldo at the helm will come to Stožice to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Football Association of Slovenia, the schedule of Prva Liga Telemach matches will undergo considerable changes.

According to the mentioned media, the eternal derby between Olimpija and Maribor, which was supposed to take place on Wednesday or Thursday, March 13 or 14, will be postponed to a later date and will be played after the resonant international match. Then there is a significant probability that the derby will soon be followed by a complete renovation of the pitch, which is expected to last about two weeks. During this time, the dragons will probably play some matches at the ŽAK stadium, where the Pivovarna Union Cup match against Koper will be played at the beginning of March.