NELSPRUIT - "No we are not going to use the pitch to play beach soccer," joked Fifa secretary-general Mr Jérôme Valcke, who was attempting to lighten the mood for the 120 local and international media representatives who visited Mbombela on Sunday.
Their stadium tour featured a large patch of brown, sandy soil in place of a stunning green pitch.
Valcke said that "it was better to remove the pitch" because it was not achieving the mandate of "great pitches" which would be needed for the tournament. 
"We are working on the recommendations of one of the world's top experts," said Valcke "and I am very confident that we will soon have one of the best pitches of the World Cup."
But the grim faces and determined looks of the officials said it all.
This was not the image Mbombela wanted to project to the world with only 100 days left to the tournament.
The spectacular, colourful stadium had been transformed into drab greyness. 
The R1,3 billion showpiece was the one most lagging behind of all the stadiums which the media roadshow visited.
So the experts’ plan is now to re-sow the pitch, stabilise it and strengthen the rye grass with an artificial fibre.
Mr Richard Hayden of the United Kingdom Sports Turf Institute is Fifa's chosen man.
"I am very confident that we will have a state-of-the-art pitch in seven to eight weeks," said Hayden. "The surface is just about ready for re-seeding and the weather is very kind here."
But he was less forthcoming about when the pitch would be playable and it would certainly not be before May.
"We don't want to box ourselves in," he said.
A telling choice of phrase considering how little time that leaves. At least one full-dress rehearsal is needed to ensure that all the functions and infrastructure both in and around the stadium and the city, fully meet any contingency.
"The stadium must be tested once at two-thirds capacity before the first World Cup game," Valcke answered a direct question from Lowvelder.
"There are various ways to test the stadium, especially the gates and ticketing system," said Valcke.
Provincial premier Mr David Mabuza and host city executive mayor Cllr Lassy Chiwayo endorsed the pitch decision.
"We want it to be the best - everything will be finalised on target," said Mabuza.
"The province and city are monitoring on a daily basis. Nothing will make us panic."