BY: NORHAYATI UMOR
SHAH ALAM, JUL 19: The Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) Arena football field has successfully received international recognition after obtaining certification from the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA).
MPSJ Corporate Communications and Strategic Management Officer Muhammad Azli Miswan said that the field had obtained two-star certification by FIFA Quality Pro after being listed on the FIFA website.
He said the certification award is for the duration of one year, beginning July 15, 2016 till July 14, 2017, adding, “MPSJ is waiting to get the original certificate from FIFA officials.”
Azli said the certification can be seen as an initiative by MPSJ to provide quality sports facilities of international standards that can be used by the community, youths and teens for sports and leisure during their free time.
“MPSJ implemented the artificial turf based on the frequent use of the field. In addition, the turf saves maintenance costs by 21%.
“Besides that, the MPSJ Arena is equipped with other facilities including a FIFA-sized football field, an IAAF-accredited athletics track, technical room, stage, changing rooms, audience grandstand, volleyball court, netball court and badminton-cum-sepak takraw court,” he said.
Work to install the artificial turf by MPSJ took place between December 30, 2015 and May 30, 2016 and cost RM1.7 million.
The FIFA certification test was conducted at the Acousto-Scan Research Centre and MPSJ managed to fulfil several of the set criteria, including product development (Polytan Liga Turf Ultimate CoolPlus 260 V SBR), lab tests, field installation test, field test and maintenance.
For more information about the certification, visit http://quality.fifa.com/en/Foatball-Turf/Install-Football-Turf/Certification/.