The World Cup football pitch New Zealand is set to play Italy on in South Africa has been relaid at a cost of more than $900,000 dollars due to insufficient drainage.
Contractors had to strip the original pitch at the 46 thousand seater Mbomlea Stadium at Nelspruit and dig up the clay surface underneath to allow water to drain more effectively.
The ground has been known to become waterlogged in rain and a change was ordered by football's governing body FIFA after an inspection late last year
Nelspruit's World Cup co-ordinator Differ Mogale says installation of the new pitch will be completed this week and ready to play on in time for a friendly between Ghana and Bosnia-Herzegovina on March 3.
The New Zealand - Italy match on June 21 will be the second World Cup pool game to be played at the stadium.
