IMPHAL, Jan 30 – The much awaited artificial football synthetic turf laid at the cost of more than Rs 7 crore by FIFA was formally opened in the Rising Athletic Union Ground located close to Khuman Lampak Sports Complex here today.

With this, Manipur and Meghalaya, are the only two States in the North-east to have artificial football turfs. So far FIFA under its ‘Win in India with India Project’ has laid four artificial football turfs out of the proposed eight. Similar grounds are also expected to be developed in Tamil Nadu and Punjab. 

Commissioner RK Nimai of Youth Affairs and Sports (YAS) accompanied by the All Manipur Football Association (AMFA) president A Santoshkumar and secretary L Ranjit Roy inaugurated the ground. 

“For the time being the ground will be used for trials and coaching of State football teams besides All India Football Federation and FIFA related activities” says secretary L Ranjit Roy of AMFA. 

Manipur’s Santosh Trophy team led by its coach L Ratan and goalkeeping coach L Premkanta led more than two dozen State players to practice at the newly opened ground from today. 

“We’re planning to develop the periphery infrastructure of the ground within the next year”, says Commissioner RK Nimai of YAS.

Source: Assam Tribune