Interview: Trompie Sport on Africa’s first dry hockey turf installation
The CEO of Polytan’s unique installation partner in South Africa talks about hockey’s national growth and why dry turf is a game-changer for the region.
Based in their hometown of Potchefstroom, an hour outside of Johannesburg, Trompie Sport grew from the Tromp family agricultural business, established in 1990. Cultivating instant lawn was a staple part of the business and planted the seed for the company’s sport’s arm. In 2004, brothers Nico and Philip opened this sector and began focusing on construction and civil works for sporting fields. They began with hardcourt surfaces, predominantly tennis and netball, and then expanded to artificial turf surfaces.
The business has grown into an international enterprise with Trompie Sport becoming one of Africa's leading sport construction companies involved in some of the world’s biggest sporting events including the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
We caught up with founder and CEO, Nico Tromp to find out more about the growth of the hockey market and why the introduction of Polytan’s Poligras GT zero is such a turning point for the game in the region.
On Trompie Sport’s size and scale…
We employ 300 people who operate internationally within Southern Africa and are currently undergoing projects in South Africa, Botswana and Namibia. We work across more than 12 sports and provide a turn-key solution for clients looking for the best in sporting facilities.
Trompie Sport Founders, Nico and Philip Tromp
On what makes Trompie Sport Unique…
Trompie Sport provides end-to-end service to avoid using subcontractors or third parties.
We have an extensive steel manufacturing plant with in-house design engineering for manufacturing of all sport field lighting masts, fencing and sport equipment. We also grow and harvest our own natural turf for grass sport fields and have direct agreements with global suppliers for all imported synthetic surfaces. Our installation teams are well trained and internationally certified installers, and we only use our own plant and equipment for all projects.
With this turnkey approach we provide clients with a unique solution for all sport construction needs at the most competitive price structure available in South Africa.
On sport in South Africa…
It’s no surprise that South Africa is sports mad. It’s embedded in our culture as sport offers ‘hope’ to a country that has been through a lot.
South Africa has an impressive sports framework, spanning grassroots initiatives and community schools, all the way up to club and national-level programs.
“In a country where sand fields are commonplace and water shortages and electricity can be an issue, the Poligras Paris GT zero fills a gap in the market as it doesn’t require irrigation.”
On the growth of South African hockey…
Hockey is a growing sport within the South African school system, particularly with boys. It is much more popular than it was 20 or 30 years ago when it was predominantly seen as a women’s sport. This growth has generated a rise in new facilities, particularly upgrades from grass fields to synthetic turf. Of course, the kids just love stepping onto a synthetic turf, it creates a lot of excitement at the schools and instills a sense of pride between the children and their school.
On the growth of the hockey turf market in South Africa…
Despite South Africa’s two biggest sports being soccer and rugby, we get most of our enquiries for hockey turfs. Whilst South Africa has a lot of turfs, most of the schools still play on natural grass.
There are already many synthetic hockey turfs in South Africa, with most of these existing in public and private schools and universities where they are shared with hockey clubs.
These turfs are primarily hockey only and we don’t see a lot of multi-sport turfs. The facilities are primarily sand-dressed with only approximately 10% being wet turfs.
On who’s behind the turf upgrades…
Historically, local governments and municipalities were the primary financial backers of sports facilities. However, there has been a recent shift in the market towards increased funding from the private sector.
Corporate entities are now actively investing in social development initiatives, often directing these funds towards sports facilities. Schools and clubs are benefiting from these contributions, with upgrades becoming more commonplace.
For example, it can be typical for mining companies to sponsor sporting facilities in neighbouring communities.
Philip Tromp with Polytan France’s Jean-Pierre Bailly at Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir
On the first Poligras Paris GT zero dry turf installation in South Africa…
On March 20, St Andrew’s School in Bloemfontein held its opening match to mark the first ever dry installation in Africa on Polytan’s Poligras Paris GT zero turf. The event, inaugurated by FIH Executive Member and South Africa Hockey Association President, Deon Morgan, marks a significant moment for hockey in Africa.
And not only is it the first dry turf in Africa, but it is also the first turf in the world to be certified under the new FIH Dry Turf Hockey Field Innovation Category.
In a country where sand fields are commonplace and water shortages and electricity can be an issue, the Poligras Paris GT zero fills a gap in the market as it doesn’t require irrigation. When played dry, the turf performs better than a sand-dressed pitch, however, when it does rain, or when it is lightly irrigated, the Poligras Paris GT zero upgrades into an Olympic quality surface.
The 33 junior teams and 10 senior teams that utilise the St Andrew’s facilities will greatly benefit from this new addition. They play against the country’s top 20 teams and regularly rank in the top 10 – 20 in South Africa and now have a quality surface to match their abilities.
“Hockey is a growing sport within the South African school system, particularly with boys. It is much more popular than it was 20 or 30 years ago when it was predominantly seen as a women’s sport.”
On Africa’s second dry turf installation…
The second dry turf, and Poligras Paris GT zero installation in Africa is due to be completed in Walvis Bay Gymnasium School in Namibia.
This is a big deal for Namibia as water is just not an option. It will be the first ever professional-level playing surface for the country and will provide an excellent option for hockey players to play, train and develop their skills on a quality surface.
On what’s next…
Our next installation of the Paris GT zero dry turf will be at High School Transvalia in Gauteng province.
There is a lot of excitement surrounding this project as the market demand for dry innovation increases. This will be the first dry innovation surface in the Gauteng province of South Africa, which is the province with the highest population of hockey players in the country. The construction of the civil works is almost complete and we are looking forward to the installation of the turf to happen in May 2024.
On FIH Certifications in Africa…
Because of the friction-reducing technology Turf Glide, the Paris GT zero turf has met FIH Innovation standards for dry hockey. This is very important for the African market as they really want FIH certified quality turfs but have obvious challenges around water shortages and availability of electricity to power irrigation systems.
Being able to provide Africa with a dry turf, that, with a little bit of atmospheric moisture, can upgrade to an Olympic-quality surface is a major step forward for hockey in Africa.
See the FIH certification here.
