Kalyani Stadium - Adding new dimensions to Kolkata football

It’s not like Kolkata’s Yuba-Bharati Stadium to accommodate 120,000 people in the stand. It’s not like Europe’s Old Trafford or Santiago Bernabeu, stadiums known for their rich history and glory. But certainly this small Kalyani Stadium is going to add some extra flavour to Kolkata football, as well as to the Indian Football. If in near future the All India Football Federation organizes any international match in this stadium, then it will not be a surprise to me.

With a capacity of approximately 10 thousand people, the Kalyani stadium is now considered one of the best stadiums in India, with a natural grass turf. Once during an interview with India Times, AIFF’s technical director Rob Baan expressed his desire to set up a football academy in this newly made Kalyani Stadium.

“I have been roaming in India since last two months to visit good football ground and infrastructure to establish football academies and the ground of Kalyani Stadium is the best in India,” he said.

Recently, the four Kolkata giants East Bengal, Mohun Bagan, Prayag United and Mohammedan Sporting have preferred to use the Kalyani Stadium to host most of their matches, instead of the Salt Lake stadium, which is an astro-turf field.

Let’s take a look at some reasons why this stadium is better than any other in India.

1. Like other football academies, this stadium is built with a swimming pool, gym, residential accommodation and schools for junior footballers.

2. As it is a natural grass turf, playing on this field is much easier for the players in terms of controlling the ball.

3. Being a normal grass turf, this field decreases the possibility of getting injured.

4. As 10,000 people can be accommodated in the stands, there is a greater probability that the stadium will be filled completely.

Though floodlights have not been incorporated into the stadium till now, if they do get installed soon then who knows. One day, the people of Kolkata will be able to see some European clubs or international teams play in this stadium.