TEAM HERALD
sports@herald-goa.com
MARGAO: In a bid to kick start the Goal India Project that includes training centre, FIFA delegate Dr Eric Harrisons inspected the ongoing work of the laying of artificial turf at SAG practice ground, Fatorda, on Tuesday morning.
The practice ground, which is heading towards a makeover and is likely to be ready by next month, is part of an ambitious FIFA Projects to boost the playing conditions of “The Beautiful Game” in the developing world.
Eric Harrison, the pitch consultant, later had detail talks with the contractor Rishi and was also impressed with the first hand report.
The contractor assured him that the works will be completed before June 13.
The FIFA delegate was accompanied by GFA Zonal Secretary Schubert Furtado, Alberto Colaco, former secretary of AIFF and GFA, Anthony Pango, GFA member; Gurudas Vernekar, Stadium Manager, Nehru Stadium, Fatorda and Aldear D’Cruz, secretary of GFA.
FIFA President Sepp Blatter’s dream is to boost the growth of football in the developing countries and one way in doing so is to by laying artificial turfs, thereby providing an ideal playing field.
India is one of the countries under the radar and with such a large demography, there has to be a large number of playing fields.
The significance of artificial turf is its durability. While natural turf can hold 300 hours of football, artificial turf can sustain approximately 3000 hours. Moreover, they can be used all year round and is resistant to adverse weather patterns.
