The first whistle of the Liga Betclic season is just around the corner. Fans can breathe a sigh of relief. The big opening match between Casa Pia and Sporting is officially set. It will kick off as planned on August 8, at 8:15 PM. The action will unfold at Rio Maior’s Municipal Stadium. This is what we’ve learned from our sources at Record.
Good news from the grounds crew: work to replace the stadium’s pitch is already in full swing. In fact, the new green turf is set to start being laid down tomorrow. This means the home for Casa Pia, affectionately known as the “geese,” will be ready. They are set to host the two-time national champions for their third consecutive season in Rio Maior.
Remember that unsettling feeling? Back on July 11, we reported on the dismal state of the pitch. It caused a real headache, putting the league’s very first game at risk. Casa Pia officials were clearly worried. The League itself stepped in, asking for a detailed plan to fix the problem. Miguel Pacheco, who leads Desmor, the company managing the Rio Maior Sports Complex, assured our newspaper that the pitch would get its much-needed facelift in time. That promise, thankfully, is now turning into reality.
It wasn’t easy getting to this point. In recent weeks, the stadium has been a busy place. Several national teams, like Marítimo, used Rio Maior for their pre-season training. They even played some friendly matches on the old turf. This heavy usage meant a tight schedule for the new grass installation. But it seems they’ve managed to pull it off, just in the nick of time.
