Mumbai football gets a Dutch flavour

Football

If your kid loves playing football, take him/her to the new football turf that opens in town on June 6. Said to be the first Cruyff court in India, it has been built by Cruyff Foundation that was started by the former Dutch iconic footballer, Johan Cruyff. As part of the ongoing edition of Holland Meets Mumbai, Lilianne Ploumen, minister for Foreign Trade and Development Co-operation, will inaugurate the turf.

Representative Pic

Niels Meijer, director of the Cruyff Foundation says, "The Cruyff Court is a result of the economic collaboration between the Mayors of the City of Amsterdam and the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai. The Cruyff Court in Mumbai fulfills the desire to give back to the community and the corporate social responsibility aspect of this economic collaboration.

A bird's eye view of one of the international Cruyff Courts

Indian and Dutch companies, together with the City of Amsterdam and the Johan Cruyff Foundation have raised funds to make the build of the Cruyff Court possible."

Adjacent to the St Xavier's Football Ground, the turf comprises a 20m x 30m pitch with a blue fence and orange goals and will be open on all days of the week. When asked about the reason to open such a turf, Meijer reasoned, "This court is a sport facility where children get the opportunity to play not just football, but also field hockey or any other sport.

Having said that, football is a developing sport in India and all development starts at a grassroots level, where we believe children should have the possibility to play freely and safely. The 200 Cruyff Courts across the world have given thousands of children the opportunity to become active, play sports and develop their football skills."

Time: 7 am to 7 pm (daily)
At: Cruyff Court, next to St Xaviers Football Ground, Parel.