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{{Short description|Football complex in Kolkata, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}{{Use Indian English|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox sports complex
|name=National Center of Excellence
|architect=Collage Design Pvt. Ltd.<ref>{{Cite web|date=28 Sep 2018|title=National Centre of Excellence in Football @Rajarhat, Kolkata|url=https://www.the-aiff.com/media/uploads/2019/12/AIFF-NCE-Construction-Annexure-F-05.01.2019.pdf|url-status=live|access-date=22 Aug 2021|website=the-aiff.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210822161152/https://www.the-aiff.com/media/uploads/2019/12/AIFF-NCE-Construction-Annexure-F-05.01.2019.pdf |archive-date=22 August 2021 }}</ref>
|coordinates={{Coord|22.6089|N|88.4599|E}}
|owner=[[All India Football Federation]]
|othernames=National Center of Excellence - India Football Campus
|pushpin_map=India West Bengal
|country=[[India]]
|address=Street Number 787, Action Area II, [[New Town, Kolkata|New Town]], [[Kolkata]] 700157
|website=[https://www.the-aiff.com/national-center-excellence the-aiff.com/national-center-excellence]
|construction_cost={{INRConvert|200|c|year=2018}}|built={{Start date and age|2018|df=yes|p=yes|br=yes}}|public_transit={{rint|kolkata|m}} [[Convention Centre metro station|Convention Centre]]|general_contractor=Shanghvi and Associates Consultants Pvt. Ltd, MEPCON Design Studio<ref>{{Cite web|date=28 Sep 2018|title=National Centre of Excellence in Football @Rajarhat, Kolkata|url=https://www.the-aiff.com/media/uploads/2019/12/AIFF-NCE-Construction-Annexure-F-05.01.2019.pdf|url-status=live|access-date=22 Aug 2021|website=the-aiff.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210822161152/https://www.the-aiff.com/media/uploads/2019/12/AIFF-NCE-Construction-Annexure-F-05.01.2019.pdf |archive-date=22 August 2021 }}</ref>|image=AIFF National Center of Excellence 5.jpg|image_size=250px}}
The '''National Center of Excellence''' (or '''National Center of Excellence - India Football Campus''')<ref name=":2" /> by [[All India Football Federation]] is an under construction [[Sports complex|football complex]], in [[Kolkata]], [[West Bengal]], India. It serves as the one of the home base for [[India national football team]] and [[India women's national football team]]. It includes India’s first ever roof top pitch. Built on a {{Convert|15|acre|ft2}} land behind [[Eco Park, Kolkata|Eco Park]] and beside a proposed deer park, in Action Area II, [[Rajarhat]], [[New Town, Kolkata|New Town]].

== Location ==
The National Center of Excellence is located on Plot No. AA-IIE/57/A, Street Number 787, Action Area-II (E) of [[New Town, Kolkata|New Town]]. It is surrounded by [[Eco Park, Kolkata|Eco Park]] golf arena on two sides and proposed deer park on another side. [[Convention Centre metro station|Convention centre metro station]] of [[Kolkata Metro Line 6]] will serve National Center of Excellence.<ref>{{Cite web|date=28 Nov 2019|title=New Town Kolkata, Action Area II|url=https://www.wbhidcoltd.com/upload_file/maps/d8d70fe086c2c2eb1e881e8736d63ef8.pdf|url-status=live|access-date=24 Aug 2021|website=wbhidcoltd.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.the-aiff.com/media/uploads/2019/12/AIFF-NCE-Construction-Dressing-Room-Allied-Works-04.07.2019.pdf|title=Proposed Works of Dressing Room & Allied Works (Phase-2) for AIFF National Center of Excellence Kolkata, West Bengal, India|publisher=AIFF|publication-date=4 July 2019|pages=10}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Eco Park Guide Map|url=https://ecoparknewtown.com/assets/frontend/pdf/guide.pdf|url-status=live|access-date=22 Aug 2021|website=ecoparknewtown.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730142001/https://ecoparknewtown.com/assets/frontend/pdf/guide.pdf |archive-date=30 July 2021 }}</ref>

== History ==
[[File:AIFF National Center of Excellence 1.jpg|left|thumb|One of the turf of the National Center of Excellence]]
Back in 2014, after the Kolkata-based club [[ATK (football club)|Atlético de Kolkata]] (ATK) won the [[2014 Indian Super League|first season]] of [[Indian Super League]] (ISL), [[Chief Minister of West Bengal|Chief Minister]] [[Mamata Banerjee]] proposed and offered the club owners, plot in [[Rajarhat]] [[New Town, Kolkata|NewTown]] area, to build an international standard football [[stadium]]. She said, "We have the [[Salt Lake Stadium]] for football and the [[Eden Gardens]] for cricket. So, I would urge Atletico to develop an international stadium in Rajarhat where we are ready to provide you land" and "You have made entire Bengal proud by winning the ISL. I take this opportunity to urge you for developing the new stadium. Come to us with all the relevant documents and we will ensure the procedures are formalised as early as possible,"<ref>{{Cite web|date=2014-12-25|title=West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee offers land to build international football stadium|url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/ready-provide-land-develop-new-football-stadium-kolkata-mamata|access-date=2021-08-22|website=www.sportskeeda.com|language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2014-12-24|title=Ready to provide land to develop new football stadium in Kolkata: Mamata|work=Business Standard India|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/ready-to-provide-land-to-develop-new-football-stadium-in-kolkata-mamata-114122400606_1.html|access-date=2021-08-22}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Mamata Banerjee agrees to handover Rabindra Sarovar Stadium for U-17 World Cup|work=The Economic Times|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/sports/mamata-banerjee-agrees-to-handover-rabindra-sarovar-stadium-for-u-17-world-cup/articleshow/45631462.cms|access-date=2021-08-22}}</ref> During that time, the preparations for [[2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup]] had also started. [[Government of West Bengal]] handed over [[Rabindra Sarobar Stadium]] to host U-17 World Cup matches and asked them to develop it into a world-class football stadium.<ref>{{Cite web|date=December 24, 2014|title=Mamata agrees to handover Rabindra Sarovar Stadium for U-17 World Cup|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/2017-u-17-world-cup/mamata-agrees-to-handover-rabindra-sarovar-stadium-for-u-17-world-cup/articleshow/45630690.cms|access-date=2021-08-22|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref> In 2017, the [[Quarter (unit)|quarter]] shareholder of ATK, [[Atlético Madrid]] exited<ref>{{Cite web|date=July 31, 2017|first=Abreshmina S.|last=Quadri|title=Atletico Madrid CEO reveals reason behind split with two-time ISL champions Atletico de Kolkata|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/football/story/atletico-madrid-atletico-de-kolkata-indian-super-league-1027213-2017-07-31|access-date=2021-08-22|website=India Today|language=en}}</ref> and the plan of building an international standard football stadium never materialised. And the U-17 World Cup venue silently shifted from Rabindra Sarobar Stadium to Salt Lake Stadium.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-09-10|title=FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017: Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium handed over to Local Organising Committee-Sports News , Firstpost|url=https://www.firstpost.com/sports/fifa-u-17-world-cup-2017-kolkatas-salt-lake-stadium-handed-over-to-local-organising-committee-4028761.html|access-date=2021-08-22|website=Firstpost}}</ref> Later that year, during the U-17 World Cup, [[All India Football Federation]] President [[Praful Patel]], with the presence of [[FIFA President]] [[Gianni Infantino]] and Mamata Banerjee announced National Centre of Excellence in Rajarhat, New Town.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|date=28 Sep 2018|title=National Centre of Excellence in Football @Rajarhat, Kolkata|url=https://www.the-aiff.com/media/uploads/2019/12/AIFF-NCE-Construction-Annexure-F-05.01.2019.pdf|url-status=live|access-date=22 Aug 2021|website=the-aiff.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210822161152/https://www.the-aiff.com/media/uploads/2019/12/AIFF-NCE-Construction-Annexure-F-05.01.2019.pdf |archive-date=22 August 2021 }}</ref> It was a part of U-17 World Cup legacy.<ref name=":5">{{Cite book|url=https://www.the-aiff.com/media/uploads/2019/12/AIFF-NCE-Construction-05.01.2019.pdf|title=Invitation of Bids for (Boundary Wall & Allied Works)|publisher=AIFF|date=5 Jan 2019|pages=9}}</ref> Mamata Banerjee said that the Government of West Bengal would provide {{Convert|15|acre|ft2}} land on [[lease]] at {{INRConvert|1}} for 90 years.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Centre of Excellence: AIFF to receive 15 acres for ₹1|url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/centre-of-excellence-aiff-to-receive-15-acres-for-1/article19951315.ece|access-date=2021-08-22|website=Sportstar|language=en}}</ref> A two-year deadline from inception of work was given.<ref name="zeenews.india.com">{{Cite web|date=2017-10-26|title=India to have Centre of Excellence with FIFA help: AIFF|url=https://zeenews.india.com/football/india-to-have-centre-of-excellence-with-fifa-help-aiff-2052237.html|access-date=2021-08-22|website=Zee News|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=2017-10-28|title=AIFF given 15 acres of land by Mamata Banerjee for National Centre of Excellence|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/fifa-u17-world-cup-2017/aiff-given-15-acres-of-land-by-mamata-banerjee-for-national-centre-of-excellence/story-n0qkxF9D9AaXZGZ2xUbKXJ.html|access-date=2021-08-22|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref> The works started in late 2018–early 2019<ref name=":5" /> with an estimate of {{INRConvert|100|c|year=2018}}, which doubled later.<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=September 26, 2017|title=AIFF: Indian football set to get national centre of excellence|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/indian-football-set-to-get-national-centre-of-excellence/articleshow/60845272.cms|access-date=2021-08-22|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref> From beginning, the project has faced hurdles which led to delays. When work started, the region was hit by severe monsoon. Then in 2020, the [[Cyclone Amphan|Super Cyclone Amphan]]; [[COVID-19 pandemic in India|COVID-19 pandemic]] and [[COVID-19 lockdown in India|lockdown]] hampered the work.<ref>{{Cite web|date=July 17, 2020|title=Launch of ISL has changed landscape of Indian football: AIFF general secretary|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/indian-super-league/launch-of-isl-has-changed-landscape-of-indian-football-aiff-general-secretary/articleshow/77021703.cms|access-date=2021-08-24|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref>

== Details ==
The Center of Excellence is being set up by the All India Football Federation with the technical and financial help from [[FIFA]] and [[Asian Football Confederation]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=National Center of Excellence|url=https://www.the-aiff.com/national-center-excellence|access-date=2021-08-22|website=www.the-aiff.com}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> It will cater the [[India national football team]] and [[India women's national football team]], and will be their home base.<ref name=":1" /><ref name="zeenews.india.com"/> It will have technical centre for the national teams, coach and referee education, youth and grassroots development, hotel for the national teams, [[futsal]] development, medical centre, an artificial pitch, a natural pitch, a stadium, dressing rooms and centre for [[Sport management|sports management]], [[sports science]] and sports law.<ref name=":5" /> The centre will also feature India’s first ever roof top pitch.<ref name=":4" /> It is being built in multiple phases. The first phase includes the technical centre, [[Artificial turf|artificial]] and natural fields.<ref name=":2" /> It is being designed by a Mumbai-based firm Collage Design Pvt. Ltd., at a cost of {{INRConvert|200|c|year=2018}}.<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-12-20|title=AIFF in talks with corporates for building National Centre of Excellence|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/football/aiff-in-talks-with-corporates-for-building-national-centre-of-excellence-5502866/|access-date=2021-08-22|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref> The total site area is {{Convert|15|acre|ft2}}, where the development area is {{Convert|5.75|acre|ft2}}. The centre will also feature India’s first ever roof top pitch.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|title=National Centre of Excellence – Football|url=https://collagedesign.net/national-center-of-excellence-football.html|access-date=2021-08-22|website=collagedesign.net}}</ref>

== See also ==

* [[Football in Kolkata]]

== References ==
<references />

== External links ==

* [https://www.the-aiff.com/ Official website of AIFF]
{{Kolkata topics|state=collapsed}}{{Football in Kolkata|state=collapsed}}{{Football in India|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Football in Kolkata]]
[[Category:Football in India]]

AIFF National Center of Excellence - Revision history

WikiDwarfBOT at 16:18, 21 July 2023