Keeping a soccer pitch in pristine condition during the harsh winter months in Canada presents its challenges and that was especially true heading into Toronto FC’s home opener.
A snowfall on Friday left BMO Field covered with snow as the grounds crew showed up to less-than-ideal conditions.
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With a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff, the crew had their work cut out for them ahead in order to get everything ready for the moment that both teams took the pitch for warmup.
After clearing the snow from the pitch and taking off the cover, the next step was the trim the grass and get the lines painted.
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After hours of work, you would never have known that there was a snowfall the night before. Safe to say, the groundcrew at BMO Field earned their paycheque.
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While the playing surface might look game ready, playing in the cold weather does present challenges for the players but they are more than ready to deal with it.
“It makes it better,” TFC midfielder Jonathan Osorio told reporters on Friday. “We’re in Toronto, so… No, seriously. It’s always exciting, the home opener, BMO Field, there’s nothing like it.
“Whatever the weather the fans come out and they support and that’s why they’re the best in the league. We’re just excited to get in front of our home crowd and to give them a good performance.”
Italian winger Federico Bernardeschi doesn’t have a lot of experience playing with snow on the ground but he wasn’t worried about the conditions being a factor.
“Maybe I’ve played in my career just two times with the snow,” Bernardeschi said. “But I know in Toronto it’s cold. For me it’s not a problem because football is football, and when the field is good, everything is good. It’s a little bit cold but, we will figure it out. And we will play a great match, for sure.”
After opening their season with two games on the road, TFC will hope that returning home will give them a chance to earn their first victory of the season. In their season opener, Toronto lost 3-2 D.C. United and earned a 1-1 draw against Atlanta United.
–With files from the Canadian Press.
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