Қазақша
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Tengrinews.kz — On August 11, Almaty-based Kairat will face Bulgaria’s Levski in a decisive Champions League clash. Due to unforeseen circumstances, the team has been forced to move its home fixture to Turkestan Arena, where the pitch quality is already raising concerns.
In the first leg of the Champions League third qualifying round, the Almaty side suffered a 1-0 away defeat. The team lost its home-field advantage for the return leg after a Kanye West concert was announced in Almaty—the very reason this crucial Champions League match was relocated to Turkestan.
According to the Turkestan Region Administration, the city is prepared to host the high-stakes match. However, the condition of the pitch at the $39 million arena has left much to be desired.
During the broadcast of the last game held at the arena—a domestic league match between Atyrau and Aktobe—several visible flaws in Turkestan’s natural turf were apparent.
For instance, the goal area appeared to be completely worn down to the bare earth.
Some footage shows chunks of turf literally tearing away from the surface, while fans commenting on the video have also pointed out the poor condition of the pitch.
"The pitch looks like a plowed field. How is Kairat supposed to play on this?" one commenter wrote.
Notably, Turkestan Arena is currently serving as the home ground for several teams this year, including Turan’s men's and women's squads, as well as Atyrau and Aktobe.
When contacted by Tengri Sport regarding the pitch quality, Kairat officials stated they have no complaints against the stadium staff.
"First and foremost, we would like to thank the management of Turkestan Arena and the Turkestan Region Administration for their hospitality and the cooperation of all city services in organizing this match. For their part, they have done everything possible to prepare the grass, including minimizing training sessions for other teams and rescheduling a women's team match.
It is understandable that maintaining a pitch in perfect condition is difficult under high temperatures and the heavy load of multiple teams. Nevertheless, significant work has been done to ensure the surface is as prepared as possible for our game," the club stated.
The Kairat vs. Levski match is scheduled to take place in Turkestan on August 11, kicking off at 20:00 Kazakhstan time.
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