Tata Steel has zeroed in on Tata Football Academy (TFA) greens in Bistupur, Jamshedpur, as a venue for Indian Super League practice sessions involving Jamshedpur Football Club (FC).
At present, the Tatas have no time to look at and develop other venues as a ground has to be made available to its franchise in September. TFA is the sole option to start with.
"We are looking at developing some other venues, including the hockey ground at JRD Tata Sports Complex and the Armoury Ground in Bistupur for practice. But we have to hand over a practice ground to our team in September. So, we are left with no other alternative other than the TFA venue," a well-placed official of Tata Steel's sports wing said.
The Tatas want their team to practise for two months before ISL kicks off in November. "We need two months so that players get into the ISL groove," the official told The Telegraph.
A practice venue has to be secure and the TFA fits the bill. "Security of players and support staff is our prime concern and the TFA is secured from every aspect," he added.
The official said the football cradle could not be used as a permanent practice venue for ISL franchise as it would affect daily training of cadets.
"Frankly speaking, we are making stop-gap arrangements till an alternative practice venue is finalised. We may find a venue midway into the ISL season as the glamour-rich tournament will stretch till March 2018," he said.
The JFC outfit will play nine matches at JRD Tata Sports Complex and as many away ties during the course of the tournament. Jamshedpur will get one more match in case the Tata team qualifies for the semi-finals.
The Tatas picked 15 Indian players during the ISL draft in Mumbai on Sunday at a cost of Rs 4.73 crore. It spent Rs 1.10 crore for star defender Anas Edathodika and Rs 87 lakh for goalie, ex-TFA cadet Subrata Paul. JFC players are expected to be in the steel city in August-end or September.
Coach Coppell visits
Tata Steel-owned ISL franchise Jamshedpur FC head coach Stephen James 'Steve' Coppell and his deputy Ishfaq Ahmed reached Jamshedpur on Monday evening. It is Coppell's maiden visit to Jamshedpur.
