JOHOR BARU: The Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) football team will be the first team in the country to have its own indoor training pitch.
The RM15 million facility, which spans over 8,000 square metres and 30 metres in height, will be built next to the training field for the JDT team at Seri Gelam.
The facility will be built by Iskandar Waterfront Holdings (IWH). Ground work is expected to commence this month and be completed by November this year.
The first training session will be as early as January next year.
The Sultan of Johor’s daughter, Tunku Puteri Tun Aminah Sultan Ibrahim, attended the ground-breaking ceremony today on behalf of Tunku Mahkota of Johor, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, who is the Johor Football Associaton president.
Johor FA secretary Mohd Fahmy Yahya said the project marks the Johor FA’s commitment in providing a venue for the team’s players to train regardless of the weather.
“The training pitch is compatible with FIFA requirements. This is a new year gift for the team and its players,” he said.
The facility will have a FIFA-approved training pitch which will be fitted with an Astro Turf playing ground, as well as a medical centre for players to recuperate or receive treatment for injuries during training.
IWH group executive director Lim Chen Herng, who also sits as one of the executive council members in the Johor FA, said the facility is sponsored by the group as one of its corporate social responsibility initiatives to bring the team to greater heights.
“Football is very big in Johor under the leadership of Tunku Ismail. There is so much pride and passion in the players, fans and supporters of the team. The new facility will certainly be a source of pride to the people of Johor,” he said.