The State of Kerala was gifted with its first ever FIFA Artificial Turf on Monday (August 10, 2015) as Chief Minister Oommen Chandy inaugurated the new pitch at the Ambedkar Stadium in Kochi, in the presence of All India Football Federation (AIFF) General Secretary Kushal Das and Kerala Football Association (KFA) President KMI Mather.

Speaking on the occasion the Chief Minister said, “We must not waste any opportunity to organize tournaments and thereby bring greater attention to the game of football.”

As part of FIFA’s “Win in India with India” project, Syncoctts International, an associate of Italian turf company Limonta Sport installed the artificial surface in Kochi.

Furthermore, the Kerala Blasters Football School, a part of the Kerala Blasters FC Development Programme, held its first training session wherein thirty members participated in various footballing activities.