Football: With the installation of floodlights at the artificial turf at Changjiji, football aficionados now don’t have to wait for weeks to play a match.

Installation work began in October last year after the materials arrived in the country and is expected to be completed within the next two weeks. The supply of the resources is funded by FIFA and the installation and ground works is sponsored by Jai Prakash (JP) constructions.

The general secretary of Bhutan Football Foundation (BFF), Ugyen Wangchhuk, said that the installation of the floodlights will help the national teams by giving them more time to train. The ground will also be available for the general public to play during night hours once the ground is free.

The estimated cost of all the equipment including the four 20m floodlight pillars is approximately Nu 4.9 million. The cost of the construction and installation will be fully supported by JP constructions.

Currently, the fee charged by BFF to play at night hours at the Changlimithang ground is Nu 5,000 per game because of the use of the floodlights. During the day, the charges vary from Nu 4,000 on weekdays and Nu 4,500 on weekends.

Ugyen Wangchhuk said that the charges will remain the same at the Changjiji ground as well. “The money collected from the fee is saved for the replacement of the turf in the future,” he said.

The artificial turf ground at Changjiji was inaugurated in December, 2013.

By Younten Tshedup