The shoddy playing surface at Orlando Stadium has been afforded a three-week break in the hope that the pitch can start representing the venue's R280-million price tag.

Saturday's Soweto derby was the third clash in eight games at the ground, which officially opened in November last year after being heavily refurbished.

PSL chief operations officer Ronnie Schloss admits that the stadium has been overused.

"If you overuse a field it is going to reach that stage," he told the Times.

"It is like a car. If you don't service it, it will break down. There are quite a few large ugly portions and if you get that you need time to fix it.

"The challenge we are faced with is that there are some other activities such as school things and TV shoots that take place there. It is not just football and the pitch has taken its toll due to the amount of wear. But the problem is that we have played so many games there."

Orlando Stadium is set to be a training ground for next year's World Cup, but apart from the state of the playing surface, there has been problems with the lighting.

The MTN8 final had to be delayed at the start of the second half, while the clash between Golden Arrows and Kaizer Chiefs four days later, also witnessed a power failure of sorts.

"We have come to an agreement that the venue must be closed for three weeks while they rehabilitate the pitch. That will also give them time to work on the electricity problems we experienced in the last week," Schloss added.

"There was a problem with the wiring (during the MTN8 final). We had a direct connection from Eskom but it was not their fault. There was a problem with the wiring and that led to the failure of the lights.

"Technicians were called in and they established what the cause was and rectified it within about 45 minutes."

With regards to the 'Amakhosi'/'Abafana Bes'thende' clash, he explained: "On that occasion we ran floodlights on generators.

"But one of the generators overheated and when that happens it automatically switches itself off. The three weeks will enable us to rectify all these problems."

Meanwhile, PSL CEO Kjetil Siem, is also disgusted with the state of the lawn at Orlando. He told SAPA: "Something has to be done about the pitch. It is simply not up to standard."