The football pitch at Charco del Pino, in Granadilla de Abona, has been facing structural and maintenance issues for years, making its use a health risk for players.
With several grassroots categories, a women’s team, and a newly promoted regional team to Preferente, the club coexists with obsolete changing rooms, dilapidated stands, an athletics track nearby that hampers football practice, non-functional floodlights, and above all, a poor playing surface over two decades old.
Among the footballers playing on this pitch, there’s a warning that has become almost legendary: a wrong footing can lead to scrapes, burns and, worst of all, an injury.
“We’ve been using the same carpet for nearly 20 years, whereas it’s recommended to change it every 10,” says Mario Ventura, the club president. “Our physiotherapist warns that the players are facing an enormous strain.”
The councillor for Public Works in Granadilla de Abona, Marcos Antonio Rodríguez Santana, confirmed to this newspaper that the first phase of the project, already approved, includes the removal of the current turf, levelling and asphalting of the ground, installation of new artificial turf, modernisation of the irrigation system, and redirection of rainwater to the nearby ravine, as demanded by the Island Water Council. Additionally, there are plans to renew lamp posts and wiring for future lighting projects, although this part depends on the Sports department.
Budget Changes
The initial budget was €808,000, but after technical reviews and adjustments, the final amount has risen to €851,274.
One of the main hurdles has been the ownership of the pitch, which belongs to the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF). After signing a lease agreement, the institution requires that any major works receive prior and explicit authorisation from the Federation, as stated in article 4 of its statutes. This has led to additional procedures and delays.
To this complexity, it adds that the ground is situated over a ravine, which required the Island Water Council to demand modifications for rainwater collection. Moreover, the project is subject to impacts from hydraulic infrastructures, necessitating coordination with up to three different institutions.
According to information obtained by DIARIO DE AVISOS, the project has been stalled as it wasn’t approved in the Governing Board, which, according to the current councillor for the area, “has posed a significant obstacle.”
Rodríguez admits to his “part of the blame,” but accuses the previous governing group, of which he was a part until a censorship split, of using this renovation “as a political weapon and deceiving parents, children, and workers.”
The council has confirmed that once the required procedures are completed, the project will be put out to tender before the end of August.
However, the club remains sceptical. “The process hasn’t been handled appropriately. Everything could have been expedited, and we would already be underway with the works,” claims Ventura. “We don’t know when they will start or where we will be relocated. The surrounding pitches are occupied. It’s very difficult to plan a season this way.”
After several seasons waiting for the turf change, Charco del Pino is hopeful that this time the process will come to fruition, just days before the competitions commence and amid the urgency to transform their pitch into a modern space for sports practice.
