FOOTBALL | Behind the scenes on how Salt Lake is being readied for India’s clash with Brazil
The Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata has undergone significant pitch restoration to meet international standards for an upcoming friendly match between India and Brazil. A Brazilian turf expert supervised the month-long process to ensure the field is suitable for professional play.
Why it matters
High-quality pitch conditions are essential for player safety and the successful hosting of international sporting events.
India’s football aficionados were in for a big surprise when five-time World Cup champion Brazil — the famed Seleção — confirmed an international friendly against the Blue Tigers at the Salt Lake Stadium (Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan) in Kolkata on October 3.
Soon after the announcement, a team from the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) visited Kolkata, but was unhappy with the condition of the pitch.
Preparations on a war footing followed; the All India Football Federation (AIFF) asked the CBF to provide an expert to get the turf in shape in time. Accordingly, Ivan Nascimento, a turf expert from Brasilia, arrived in the city and stayed here for a month, supervising the transformation.
Restoration and repair of the football pitch involved weeks of work with the local and the Brazilian team operating in tandem. | Photo Credit: Courtesy: Ivan Nascimento
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