TFF training centre opened

The Turkish Football Association (TFF) has officially unveiled its new training and education centre in Istanbul. The centre is named after former TFF president Hasan Doğan, who passed away in 2008.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, minister of youth and sports Akif Çağatay Kılıç, mayor of Istanbul Kadir Topbaş, TFF president Yıldırım Demirören and Turkey national-team coach Fatih Terim were among those present at the inauguration ceremony.

The complex has been built with UEFA's help. The European body provided €6m via its HatTrick assistance programme on behalf of UEFA's 54 member associations.

Construction work for the complex, officially called the Hasan Doğan National Teams Training and Education Facilities, began in April 2013. The complex is the biggest infrastructural investment in the TFF's history.

It has been built to be environmentally friendly and energy efficient, and uses renewable energy sources. It is constructed on an area of 190,000m2 and includes five training grounds with newly-laid turf, and rehabilitation and accommodation facilities, as well as recreational areas including tennis courts, a mini-golf pitch, artificial lake, and walking and running tracks.

Covered parts of the complex include offices, conference and meeting halls, a three-floor hotel, a health club and restaurants. The ground level contains swimming and therapy pools, as well as a Turkish bath, sauna, massage and treatment rooms, while the second floor consists of a 350m2 fitness room.

Prime Minister Erdoğan said he hoped that the new centre would first help the Turkish team in their efforts to qualify for UEFA EURO 2016 in France. "Now the TFF owns fantastic facilities in Istanbul," he said, "and with further upgrades in due course, they will be excellent.

"From the youth teams to the seniors, all national teams will have the possibility to have training camps here. The players will feel at home with all the services at their disposal, and will have the self-confidence of training in their own facilities. I believe these facilities will have a very positive impact on the performance of our national teams."

TFF president Demirören said the completion of this project represented a huge step forward for the development and success of Turkish football at every level. "This complex is made even more significant because it is named after Hasan Doğan, a prominent figure with his character and passion for sports. His memory will live on forever with this opportunity. All our national teams will have a new home, and it will open the way for the training of new star players."