SAG agrees to lease out Tilak Maidan to AIFF
PTI, PANAJI | 11 June 2011 00:10 IST
The Sports Authority of Goa (SAG) has conditionally agreed to lease out Tilak Maidan playfield to the All India Football Federation (AIFF), clearing decks for the first FIFA-sponsored artificial turf to be laid in Goa.
"Only the playfield will be leased to the AIFF for 30 years. All other facilities like the stands and dressing room will continue to be in possession of the SAG," said V M Prabhudessai, SAG Executive Director, after having talks with Goa Football Association Secretary, Alberto Colaco on Thursday.
The AIFF have approved two artificial turfs for Goa. While the first one will be laid at the Duler stadium in Mapusa, the second, will be laid at the Tilak Maidan in Vasco.
There was a delay in signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the SAG and AIFF after the former objected to the 30-year lease clause in the contract.
"We could not have leased the entire stadium to the AIFF for 30 years or till the turf lasts, whichever is earlier. We have now reached an agreement to lease only the playfield," said Prabhudesai.
"We will now sign an agreement with the GFA and AIFF regarding usage of the ground," said Prabhudesai.
According to the agreement, the AIFF will allow the SAG and Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs to use the ground as and when required for sports purpose and not for any other use.
The artificial turfs are being laid in Goa as part of FIFA's ambitious "Win in India" with India programme.
FIFA initially proposed to set up eight artificial turf fields in India. Work on artificial turf fields in Shillong, Imphal, and Mumbai have already commenced and in Bangalore, the work is already completed.
Delhi, Tamil Nadu and Kerala were initially short listed to receive artificial turfs but since there was no positive response, the AIFF decided to allot additional turfs to Goa, Maharashtra and Bengal.
