The future stadiums of Indian Football

Though India is not known for other sports, it takes the center stage when it comes to Cricket. Cricket is the sport that has made the people of India have at least something in common with each other. As it is a popular sport, there are many well developed cricket stadiums around the country. But Cricket is not very much popular in other countries, specially Europe. The most accepted sport in the world is football, which is where India lags behind, in fact in all the departments of this sport. As FIFA recently described India as the ‘sleeping giant’.

Its time for us to rise, yes the time has come for us to make India a Football superpower in our world. To do this we should posses good infrastructure. Efforts are being carried out by AIFF and other state associations to build some of the best stadiums having all the facilities required for world class football. Let us have a look at them.

BANGALORE FOOTBALL STADIUM (KARNATAKA)

The football stadium has come up in Ashok Nagar in Bangalore. Recently the artificial turf has been laid and the president of the KSFA (Karnataka state football association) has declared that all the required measures will be taken to make the infrastructure a first class one. The newly laid artificial turf is of FIFA approved standard and the remaining job to be done is in developing the infrastructure.

Let us hope this stadium will be an Indian equivalent of Old Trafford in the coming future.

PALJOR FOOTBALL STADIUM (SIKKIM)

Situated on the beautiful hills in Gangtok, this is the Paljor football stadium. The artificial turf has been laid recently and the stadium turns out to be the one of the most beautiful stadiums of north-east India. As the craze of football in north east is at its peak, the AIFFshould join hands with the state association to make the venue a world class one. Can we witness an Indian Camp Nou in the coming future? We have to wait patiently to see that happen.

STADI ARENA (GUJARAT)

The stadium is a joint venture by the state government of Ahmadabad and Transstadia private company. The stadium is said to be designed in European style and the architecture is in suit to world class football standards. The stadium is said to have the capacity around 33,000. The stadium is being built in Ahmadabad the trade city of Gujarat state and is said to be completed by 2012. This will be the greatest gift to the football fans of Ahmedabad.

JAWAHARLAL NEHRU STADIUM (MEGHALAYA)

The stadium registered the highest attendance in 2010-11 I-League season, which clearly indicates the love among the people for football. There are efforts being made by the Meghalayan state government to make the venue a world class one. There is normally ahuge crowd turn out during any of the football matches but the infrastructure and the stands are ill suited to watching the matches. If there will be good infrastructure and the turf conditions improve then there is no doubt that the stadium will being double the crowds.

COOPERAGE STADIUM (MAHARASHTRA)

The stadium was home for teams like Mahindra united and Mumbai F.C during the 2010-11 I-League. Presently the stadium is under renevation and bucket seats are being installed and also the stadium is going to get a artificial turf by January 2012. New floodlights are being installed in the stadium.Appropriate measures are taken by WIFA to make the stadium a world class one. Let us all hope that the stadium becomes one of the best stadiums in India and also in the world.

Along with these stadiums if some other good stadiums are built by AIFF then India is going to take the centre stage in world football and India can bid for the future prestigious tournaments like the World Cup. Let us wish that many stadiums with good facilities will come up in our country which turns the ‘SLEEPING GIANT’ into a ‘SUPER POWER’ in football.