Santos use fixture break to revitalise Vila Belmiro pitch | OneFootball

Santos are using a break in the schedule to carry out maintenance and revitalisation of the Vila Belmiro pitch, with the pause coming after their Campeonato Paulista elimination and the Brasileirão's recent stoppage for state finals.

Work started on 26 February, the day after victory over Vasco, and is geared towards the next home date, the derby with Corinthians on 15 March in the Brasileirão. According to Diario Do Peixe, the club want the surface in optimal condition.

The programme includes an agronomic plan featuring soil decompaction and aeration, which improve drainage and help the grass absorb water and nutrients.

Club heritage manager Alexandre Librandi said the stadium's busy calendar, spanning men's, women's and at times youth matches, requires daily oversight from a dedicated team.

One distinguishing feature is the drainage system, which coped well during heavy rain against Vasco and drew praise for its playing conditions. Librandi linked that performance to the technology embedded in the surface.

Installed in 1997, Vila Belmiro was the first in Latin America to use vacuum drainage, a solution only adopted in other Brazilian venues years later, particularly from 2012 during preparations for the 2014 World Cup.

Alongside the technical work, Santos maintain a daily routine of mowing, irrigation and fine adjustments to preserve the pitch.

Source: Diario Do Peixe