Internacional, historically known for its football prowess, is now facing a challenge off the pitch as it prepares to replace the grass at both the Beira-Rio Stadium and the Parque Gigante Training Center. Walter Aciar, the club’s lawn consultant, estimates the project will take about a month, pending the completion of cleanup operations currently delayed by flooding.
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The restoration process is on hold until the fields are fully cleared and dried. “We’re actively cleaning the stadium, but the training center is still underwater,” Aciar explained. He emphasized that the floodwaters have destroyed the newly planted winter grass, necessitating a complete replanting once conditions improve.
Situação atual do estádio Beira Rio.
📸 Jeff Bottega pic.twitter.com/BmvZbDNVMk
— Diário Colorado (@1909diario) May 13, 2024
During a critical visit to Porto Alegre last week, Aciar discussed the urgent need to resume operations, noting that the planting process could vary between 21 to 30 days, heavily influenced by temperature. Cooler weather would slow down the grass’s growth, adding another layer of complexity to the timeline.
Beira Rio:
Antes // Depois 😢 pic.twitter.com/MERhUsg3oC— todo dia um gol do inter (@tddiainter) May 6, 2024
More threats
The threat of the Guaíba River rising again looms, potentially disrupting the planned recovery efforts. Despite these challenges, Aciar has been scouting alternative training locations, including CT Morada dos Quero-Queros and PUCRS, which will host the team’s next training session.
This project highlights the strong partnership between Aciar and Internacional’s coach, Coudet. They’ve successfully collaborated at various clubs for five years and continue to work well together, despite the challenges posed by weather and repairs at Internacional.
Remembering Zagallo
Sambafoot Series launched a new documentary about the football legend Zagallo. Known as ‘Velho Lobo‘ and as superstitious as it gets, Zagallo helped shape what Brazilian football is nowadays — as a player and as a coach.
Binge the first five episodes available on Sambafoot’s Youtube channel. Stay tuned for upcoming releases as we keep telling this legend’s life story.
