Artificial Turf in Kerala – A Distant Dream or Reality?
As part of the “Win in India with India” launched by Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) in 2007, ten artificial turf fields of international standards had been sanctioned by FIFA to the All India Football Federation (AIFF). Kerala, one of the prospective states for implementation of the artificial turf according to AIFF, may miss the opportunity – in another case of ‘who will bell the cat’.
FIFA is financing the project and is expected to handle the project independently in terms of bidding process, contract signing and testing. A seminar to educate member associations on how to maintain the quality of the artificial surfaces is also on the cards. FIFA will pick one from the four artificial turf companies contracted to them – Field Turf (Canada), Limonta (Italy), Greenfields (Holland) and Act Global (New Zealand) to lay the all-weather turf.
The AIFF made a great strategic decision by picking states where the I-League clubs were based and other states that were part of the “Vision India” program of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). Each artificial turf field is expected to cost a minimum of Rs 4 Crores and it is rumored that States like Goa, Delhi, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Manipur, Punjab, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal are likely to benefit from this project.
The associations of Goa, Kerala and Tamil Nadu have confirmed that last month, the AIFF has issued them a letter to this effect requesting the respective state associations to identify the stadium (and city) where the artificial turf fields can be implemented and provide the availability and details.
It was widely expected that the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (locally known as Kaloor International Stadium) at Kochi will be the one that would get picked by the Kerala Football Association (KFA). The JN Stadium with a seating capacity of 75,000 is India’s fifth largest stadium and has played host to various national and international events including the reputed Nehru International Cup in 1997.
JN Stadium is also home to Viva Kerala (the only South Indian I-League representative) and Malabar United (played in the I-League Second Division last season). However, lately, the turf at JN Stadium has been in bad shape and Viva Kerala was forced to play some of their matches away from home due to International cricket matches being hosted at the venue.
It seems like God has finally answered our prayers. The BCCI is planning a bigger purpose-built stadium for cricket in Kochi thereby ignoring the JN Stadium indefinitely, FIFA and AIFF would like to implement artificial turf in Kerala and the Sports Minister of Kerala (M Vijayakumar) has assured that the Government will do its best to rejuvenate football in Kerala and supplement the efforts of KFA.
However, the KFA is yet to respond to the letter from AIFF though the last date for submission has lapsed about two to three weeks back and it is extremely surprising that the KFA has still not identified a stadium (and city).
The JN Stadium at Kochi is owned by the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA). Moreover, it is common knowledge to one and all in Kerala that none of the football stadiums are controlled by KFA. Hence, the KFA has sought the help of the Kerala Sports Council (KSC).
The KSC President and former mayor of Kozhikode, T P Dasan, is of the opinion that since the FIFA Football Academy is being planned at Kochi (wonder if land has been procured for the project!), the artificial turf can be implemented at Kozhikode. He has, however, clarified that no stadium or city has been identified for the implementation and was not aware of the urgency or time frame in identifying the stadium.
In the essence of time, can somebody please stand up and bring the situation under control? KSC, KFA and AIFF needs to mend their ways of bureaucracy and work together to sort this issue. The football lovers in Kerala are in anticipation of a favorable response from all concerned.
Let us not forget that there are a host of other cities waiting to grab the chance. Kerala’s loss (God forbid!) could be a gain for cities like Hyderabad, Guwahati, Jamshedpur, Pune, Shillong or even Siliguri.
While there are no clear or indicative answers on artificial turfs to Kerala, the million dollar question still remains – will this be a distant dream or reality? Oh, by the way, just realized that Rs 4 Crores is roughly a million dollars, so it is indeed a million dollar question!!!
Jason Morais writes for Footballkerala.com
July 9th, 2009 at 7:27 pm
I am not sure if artificial turfs should be a priority at all – this is not field hockey which was effectively killed as a popular sport by making them play on artificial turf making it a pure hit-and-run game. Normal grounds that can be maintained with minimal costs should be the goal, let us not fall into the rat trap of some artifical turf companies in the west. Kerala doesn’t need an artificial turf, and I guess turf is not the problem, it is the way football is run in the state.
August 9th, 2009 at 1:03 pm
the artificial turf is a good idea. i disagre with jaydeep
because anbody who play football can easly understand the need of a good ground condetion. the main problem with ordinary ground is bouncing.the ball bouns more u find difficult to stop the ball and u loose it. the artificial turf can do a lot better compaired to ordinary ground.we are still so late to impliment these kind of new tech ,we are so far from the west.only the artificial turf cant solve our plroblem that is another truth but i welcome this idea
August 10th, 2009 at 9:17 am
Artificial turf is not a practical one in our country because there is big money involved and it is usually the turf companies who gain instead of players or fans. Artificial ground is NOT a solution for poor ground conditions – it can be easily fixed by spending very little money than spending a lot on artificial turf. IMO, it is a technology that football in our country does NOT need or cannot afford. After all football’s popularity is due to its simplicity and let us not make it more complicated. There are many other things we can do with that kind of money.
January 29th, 2010 at 2:23 pm
It was posted on july 9th, the next july is just 5 months away.
Leave kerala, did any of the indian state proceeded further with the idea of artificial turf?
what is the status of the fifa funded project now?
January 29th, 2010 at 4:13 pm
Hi,
The AIFF appointed a committee of three to inspect the recommended grounds and were satisfied with five centers, viz., Cooperage Ground (Mumbai), Bangalore Football Stadium (Bangalore), Polo Ground (Shillong), National Sports Academy (Imphal) and JCT owned ground in Hoshiarpur (Punjab).
After inspection, the FIFA has decided to go ahead with laying of artificial turf in the first four centers (Mumbai, Bangalore, Shillong and Imphal) in round one.
The tender process is on to select the company/companies for completing the task. Apparently, there are around 20 companies (including all major players in the global turf business) who have submitted their bids.
However, it is still unclear if one or more companies will win the contract. All funds towards this project have been identified and allocated by FIFA.
That’s the latest on the topic!
February 5th, 2010 at 5:42 pm
Just a ‘lil heads up…
FIFA has awarded the tender for installing artificial turfs in Shillong and Imphal to Limonta Sports and Mumbai and Bangalore to Greenfields BV.
February 13th, 2010 at 12:34 pm
Why Kerala Football Association is showing lack of interest to implement the turf. The best place is JN International Stadium, Kaloor.
Now I heard lately a new turf is going to be laid since the roof is completed.
How is the turf laid, is it laid from FIFA FUND or from GCDA
December 24th, 2010 at 12:57 pm
Our company with our partner Limonta is doing the Shillong and Imphal projects. Kerala will not be having any turf as it stands.
May 18th, 2011 at 12:42 pm
the kaloor stadium is used for cricket now and the football purposes are forgotten….. the ipl team kochi tuskers has the jawaharlal nehru stadium as home..but the cricket following is nothin in this state compared to football…. the kaloor stadium shud go bac to football…. cricket has the money and land for the edakochi stadium…… but we shud not let an investment for football go wasted for cricket….and wen all these international clubs and international legends cum to calcutta ..dont v malayalis hope they cum to kerala as wel………as a one of the few handful states who value football to this level..v deserve more…. hope the new udf government does sumthing abt it…….