Jamshedpur: Nine visiting Indian Super League (ISL) teams will practise at the Tata Football Academy (TFA) greens.

With Jamshedpur Football Club (JFC) owners Tata Steel having no other option, the TFA address in Bistupur was the only way out. Armoury grounds, also in Bistupur, was initially thought as a practise venue for visiting teams but the idea was dropped owing to maintenance issues. Tata Steel has earmarked a place in Kadma which will be ready in a year or two.

JFC had a number of practise sessions at TFA before their opening match versus Northeast United FC in Guwahati on November 18. The outfit will return home after their outing against Kerala Blasters FC (in Kochi on November 24) and straightaway get involved in preparations at the practise venue.

Groundsmen are already at work at the TFA greens to make it more fit for training. Extra soil has been spread and the field is being watered in the afternoons.

JFC CEO Mukul Choudhary said the ground was the only option for teams to practise. "JFC and visiting teams would train themselves on the ground on rotation basis," he added.

JFC will play nine matches against different teams at the JRD Tata Sports Complex in Bistupur. The first match here is between JFC and defending champions Atletico de Kolkata on December 1.

JFC's other matches are versus FC Pune City (December 10), Chennaiyin FC (December 28), Mumbai City FC (January 5), Kerala Blasters FC (January 17), Delhi Dynamos FC (January 21), Northeast United FC (February 10), Bengaluru FC (February 28) and FC Goa (March 4).

The city will get one more match in case JFC makes it to the semi-finals.