Singapore footballer says new Sports Hub is 'more about money' than sports

The surface at the National Stadium has been heavily criticised.

'You've sold out, haven't you? You're more about money, moving in a direction I don't understand. Honestly, I miss the old you,' said Singapore footballer Baihakki Khaizan in an Instagram post on Monday.

The 30-year-old, who is a member of the LionsXII team gave his honest opinion about the nation's glitzy new National Stadium - describing it as 'all fancy', with 'all the bells and whistles'.

He wrote, 'I remember the plain you, and they are wonderful memories. We won championships on the platform you provided, I became a Lion on your lawn... You're different now. And I'm not convinced by how you're behaving now.'

The post attracted over 4,000 Likes and numerous comments agreeing with his sentiment.

An @eddierazak said, 'If a football player, representing his nation is saying this... then something is wrong somewhere. Whatever you raised is exactly my sentiments bro.'

The post comes just as the Brazil and Japan football teams prepare to meet in a friendly exhibition game on Tuesday evening.

Both teams voiced concern over sandy patches on the pitch, which could increase the risk of injury during the match.

While the Football Association of Singapore has declared the field to be 'playable' despite being 'short of international playing standards', Brazil coach Dunga does not seem impressed.

During a press conference on Monday, Dunga said, 'I feel that most of it is sand, not grass... It's going to be hard to pass the ball. The Brazilian team always tries to produce a good spectacle... but we need good conditions of the field.'

Japan's coach Javier Aguirre said pitch conditions would prevent the Japanese squad from putting on their best performance.

No time for football pitch to recover?

Since the new National Stadium opened on 30 June 2014, the pitch has been used for various events - including music concerts - that are scheduled close to each other, leaving very little time for the grass on the pitch to grow.

A total of 3,000 performers from the Singapore Chinese Orchestra had a concert at the National Stadium on 28 June, followed by a Stefanie Sun comeback concert on 5 July.

In October, after the football match on Tuesday evening, the venue will be hosting Mariah Carey's concert on 24 October, Jay Chou's concert on 8 November and a rugby event on 15 November.

Reuters reported that the Sports Hub purchased S$1.18 million in growth enhancing lights after Italian football team Juventus played a friendly match with the Singapore Selection team on 16 August.

However, the senior director of Stadium at Sports Hub, Gregory Gillin, said, 'Most stadia have six months with nothing on it first before they use the pitch.'