PSA Phuentsholing Stadium

PSA Phuentsholing Stadium

Location	Phuntsholing, Bhutan
Owner	Phuentsholing Sport Association (PSA)
Type	Sport venue
Capacity	5,000
Field shape	Rectangular
Surface	Grass (until 2016) Artificial turf (2016–present)
Opened	2011
Tenants
Phuentsholing Heroes FC (present) Phuentsholing United[1] Phuentsholing City FC (previously) Chukha District Football League District Women Football Tournament

PSA Phuentsholing Stadium, also known as Phuentsholing Football Ground, is a 5,000-capacity football stadium located in Phuntsholing, Bhutan. The Bhutan Olympic Committee instigated a major sport venue construction project in 2016 which included the insertion of multiple additions to the stadium.[2] Opened to the public in summer 2011, the field was previously prepared for paddy transplantations by the local footballers.[3]

It is the only recreational venue in Phuntsholing. For example, the annual inter-departmental football tournament start depends solely on the PSA Football Ground being ready for usage.[4]

Preparatory work on the stadium was needed as it was hosting an event to celebrate Bhutan's monarch Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck.[3]

Ground

Hosting the 2011 Bhutan Monsoon Tournament, more fixtures were played irrespective of the rainfall reducing the pitch to a desolate field of uprooted grass roots which was a problem in the monsoon season.[3]

Artificial turf was built to supplant the sand pitch, costing a budget of 16.5 million Bhutanese ngultrums.[5]

Expansions

2009–2010

A facelift of the PSA Football Ground started in 2009 which saw a three-sided public gallery that could contain 5,000 people. A considerable sum of 9.8 million Bhutanese ngultrums was provided in assistance to the project from the Asian Development Bank.[6]

2017

A V-shaped drain was constructed as well as the laying of paved blocks. Around 90,428 Bhutanese ngultrums were paid to the contractors in accordance with the instruction to the bidders.[7]

References

1. "PSA Phuentsholing Stadium – Soccerway". Int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
2. "Major sports facilities in the pipeline". Kueselonline.com. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
3. "Nawang P Phuntsho". Nawangpenstar.com. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
4. "Football season in Phuentsholing | Bhutan Observer". Archived from the original on 2017-03-19. Retrieved 2017-03-19.
5. "Phuentsholing to get its own artificial turf". Kuenselonline.com. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
6. "New stadium for Phuentsholing | Bhutan Observer". Archived from the original on 2017-03-19. Retrieved 2017-03-19.
7. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-03-19. Retrieved 2017-03-19.