NEW DELHI: Keen to impart knowledge to maintain the installed artificial turfs all over Asia, a FIFA Seminar on Football Turf Development kicked-off in Mumbai on Monday (November 24).

42 participants from over 20 Countries including Jordan, Iran, Oman, UAE, Myanmaar amongst others, are attending the two-day Seminar. Besides, members from SAFF Countries -- Afghanistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and hosts India would also go back enriched.

The practical sessions would be conducted at the Cooperage Stadium by FIFA Consultant Eric Harison while Daniel Krebs, Manager, Football Facilities and Income Generation Programme, FIFA will also be making presentations.

Speaking to www.the-aiff.com on the significance of the event, FIFA Regional Development Officer, South and Central Asia Dr. Shaji Prabhakaran maintained the purpose is to “provide expertise in terms of better maintenance of artificial turfs.”

“It’s important for all stakeholders to preach and adopt the best practices to develop a culture for optimal utilization of resources,” Dr. Prabhakaran stated.

“One needs to induct the culture into the veins, the failure of which will lead to premature wear and tear of turfs,” he added. “Such a situation is never conducive for development of the sport wherein the investment doesn’t stay productive in long run.”

This is the second of its kind Seminar in India, the earlier one for participants from South Asian Countries having been held in Bengaluru in 2013.

“And it’s not just maintenance,” Dr. Prabhakaran further clarified. “The maintenance needs to be as per scientific methods as one needs to address the load factor on the turf. Otherwise the damage may become in-repairable,” he informed.

FIFA have invited the facility managers of all the venues where artificial turfs have been installed in India. At the moment, FIFA turfs in India stay existent in Mumbai, Goa (two venues), Kochi, Shillong, Imphal and Barasat in Kolkata.

“FIFA insists on having strict guidelines and following it on a regular basis. There’s needs to be a dedicated person for the job who needs to be trained on usage of all basic equipments for maintenance. Every facility manager should have the basic knowledge.”