Winter Sports
Renata Mundim Ribeiro is a former international program assistant at Ohio State University and currently works for GlobalTurf Network, a website for Spanish and Portuguese speaking turfcare professionals.
Renata Mundim Ribeiro
Renata: Please, tell us a little about yourself and your work.
I am Antônio Alves do Nascimento Filho, from Ceará state, Brazil. I’m an agronomist with a Masters Degree in Soil Science and Plant Nutrition. I work for Greenleaf Lawns Company, founded in the city of Rio de Janeiro and, for over twenty-five years, have managed sportsfields in Brazil. We were responsible for building and maintaining six pitches for the Confederations Cup.
I’ve been involved with sportsfields since 2008, and currently am the groundsman at the stadium Aderaldo Plácido Castelo - popularly known as Arena Castelão. During my tenure, I have been involved in the construction and establishment of the field including grading, drainage, irrigation and now maintenance.
The Arena Castelão hosted three important games during the Confederations Cup that included the teams from Brazil, Spain, Nigeria, Mexico and Italy.
Renata: What are the grasses and cultivars used in the stadium?
We established by sprigging ‘Celebration’ Bermuda grass, which is adapted to our climate. Three and half weeks after sprigging, our field had achieved ninety percent cover. We started using the field shortly after, with the inauguration on January 27, 2013 with a round of double games.
The Celebration Bermuda grass in our climate grows rapidly and responds well to fertilisation. It also accepts very low heights of cut and has held up well from the wear we have had from soccer matches. Celebration does require a high level of cultural intensity given that aggressive growth habit produces a significant amount of organic matter and thatch. We vertical cut often, among other practices, to provide a firm sports field.
The Arena Castelão is the first stadium in the Brazilian Northeast to establish Bermuda grass. Given our experience, we have no intention of replacing it. During our winter, we overseed with ryegrass (Lolium perenne). The ryegrass provides a nice colour and does better in shaded areas where the Celebration struggles a bit.
We do face challenges outside of soccer events like many sportsfield managers. This past year, a month prior to the
64 PC DECEMBER/JANUARY 2014
In this article, she conducts a question and answer session with one of the groundsmen responsible for football pitches in Brazil, Antônio Alves do Nascimento Filho
Confederations Cup, Sir Paul McCartney performed in concert, and he was great, but the stage, equipment and huge crowd resulted in considerable damage to the pitch. It was challenge to get it in shape in time for the Confederations Cup.
Renata: What about Fortaleza?
The city of Fortaleza, capital of Ceará state, is located in the Northeast of Brazil. It is a city with great potential for tourism. Every year we receive a number of tourists, especially from Europe. The weather is great with little climatic variation throughout the year (23-33°C). Fortaleza is a city of friendly people and beautiful beaches.
Renata: How is the groundsmanship profession in Brazil?
Groundsmen in Brazil are mainly trained agronomists. Most of the positions are concentrated in the South and Southeast and not as much up here in the Northeast.
Renata: What is the status of the sportsfield profession in Brazil?
Unfortunately, Brazil does not offer a lot of qualification for professionals in the sportsfield area. We often study abroad to gain more knowledge. However, all the events surrounding the World Cup in 2014 has brought attention to our profession and I think it is definitely a turning point for our industry.
We are seeing a number of turf companies coming to Brazil to offer their products. Today, we can say that we have technological machines, automated irrigation, quality inputs and an improvement in the quality of labour that you would expect to find in Europe.
For us who work in the area, it is a great challenge to maintain, expand and improve the quality of sportsfields in Brazil.
It is very important to exchange information and, for this, I communicate with colleagues from other countries like the United States, Portugal, Spain, England and Holland.
I love what I do and feel fortunate to be in this profession. It is especially nice to receive all the messages from around Brazil and the world congratulating my staff on a job well done this past year for the Confederations Cup.
The pitch ahead of the first Confederations Cup game ©FIFA
I would like to use this opportunity to thank you, Renata Mundim Ribeiro and GlobalTurf Network team, for the various videos, articles and informational materials that you offer on your website. Your information has helped, immeasurably, all the sportsfield professionals in Brazil. You and your colleagues provide the most accurate information and are, frankly, our main source for turfgrass updates.
Also, thank you for the opportunity to be talking to the world about Fortaleza/CE and our stadium. I invite everyone to please come and watch the matches in the 2014 World Cup, where the Arena Castellan will welcome you with open arms.
Antônio Alves do Nascimento Filho
alves@greenleafgramados.com.br
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156