Salt Lake’s Shifting Shades
Kolkata: Salt Lake Stadium is turning saffron ahead of its much anticipated date with football history, with the iconic venue getting a fresh coat of paint — saffron — days before it hosts Brazil’s senior men’s team in an international friendly against India on Oct 3.
State sports minister Indranil Khan said the colour change is part of a wider facelift being carried out at the stadium ahead of the marquee fixture. The repainting is part of that,” Khan said. “Taking note of the issues, we are upgrading and changing the pitch grass,” Khan said.
The match will mark the first time the five-time FIFA World Cup champions play a senior men’s international on Indian soil, making it one of the country’s most high-profile football fixtures. The pitch, seats, gates, practice grounds and spectator facilities are among the areas being upgraded. “This will be one of the biggest sporting events the city has ever hosted, so we are upgrading the entire stadium. The current makeover, however, goes beyond the exterior. The Bermuda grass on the main pitch is being replaced following concerns raised during a recent inspection by FIFA officials over its condition. The surface had taken a beating during the monsoon and the Durand Cup.