FIFA comes to SAIT

Cohos Commons: Gurnoor Singh stands on Cohos Commons field on SAIT Campus next to the SAIT Trojans logo with his soccer ball on Thursday, May 23, 2024. Singh has been playing soccer for eight years and last played for Punjab Agricultural University. (Photo by Josiah Navratil/The Press)

SAIT is now home to one of only 23 FIFA-certified soccer fields in Canada, and students are allowed to use the pitch on a drop-in basis over the summer.

Cohos Commons field meets the requirements for world-class players like Ronaldo, Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappé and it’s a delight for SAIT students like Gurnoor Singh, who has been playing soccer for eight years.

“I just try (to spend) most (of my) time ... here ..., because it feels like home,” said Singh

“It makes me feel like I'm in India. I'm at my home ... (field) and I don't have any other stresses.”

Singh, who recently played soccer for Punjab Agricultural University, isn’t the only one enthused about the new turf.

“We have had more requests than ever for field rentals now that the field is FIFA certified,” said Lauren Kucera, manager of athletics and recreation for the SAIT Trojans.

The office: Lauren Kucera, director of athletics and recreation for the SAIT Trojans sits in her office in the Senator Burns Building on SAIT Campus on Thursday, May 16, 2024.(Photo by Josiah Navratil/The Press)

In August 2023, SAIT made a major update to Cohos Commons field with the help of FieldTurf, who installed the playing surface at BC Place, home of the BC Lions and Vancouver Whitecaps.

The new artificial turf was awarded FIFA quality standard on Jan. 1, 2024, following multiple lab tests on the shock pads and layers beneath the field, with FIFA-accredited technicians examining how a ball reacts to the new surface. The FIFA Quality Programme for Football Turf certification is valid until 2027.

The field is adjacent to the construction site of the new Campus Centre, set to be completed in 2028 according to the Alberta government.

“We're in a bit of an interesting position because while we have a really great field, we don't have Campus Centre or a field house for the teams to use,” said Kucera.

Big Shot: Gurnoor Singh winds up to kick a soccer ball on Cohos Commons field on SAIT Campus on Tuesday, May 21, 2024. Singh has been playing soccer for eight years and last played for Punjab Agricultural University. (Photo by Josiah Navratil/The Press)

From April to October, SAIT and AUArts students are allowed to use the field from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. excluding Trojans events and bad weather.

“I think moving forward, we will see more and more use of that field both by our teams ... and by outside people wanting to rent out the field to use it for games and practices.”

“It's obviously beautiful, a great landscape and an amazing way to showcase SAIT and Calgary.”

There has been interest from the SAIT cricket community in playing tape ball cricket on the field. Tape ball cricket is essentially a street version of the game in which a tennis ball wrapped with electrical tape is used.

Juggling trio: Gurnoor Singh (left) juggles a soccer ball with Noah Yemane (centre) and Redwan Yared, also know as Rizzie (right) on Cohos Commons field on SAIT Campus on Tuesday, May 21, 2024.

Both Singh and Yared are studying power engineering technology at SAIT with Singh in the final semester of his diploma and Yared in the second semester of his first year. (Photo by Josiah Navratil/The Press)

Community through sport is evident as Gurnoor Singh practiced juggling with Noah Yemane and Redwan Yared, who goes by his nickname Rizzie.

“I believe that people should engage in sports because apart from studies, you get to know more about the world when you're playing sports with different people,” said Singh.

To rent or book Cohos Commons field, contact Conference Services at 403-284-8046 or email conference.services@sait.ca .

Goalkeeper: Gurnoor Singh leans on a goalpost on Cohos Commons field on SAIT Campus with his soccer ball on Thursday, May 23, 2024. Singh has been playing soccer for eight years and last played for Punjab Agricultural University. He plays the goalkeeper position. (Photo by Josiah Navratil/The Press)

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