New Delhi, Oct 5 (IANS): The Sports Authority of India (SAI) will allow the All India Football Federation (AIFF) the use of the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium for 40 days for training and competition in the next one year and possibly for another year if things go as planned.

An agreement inked by SAI and AIFF Wednesday is essentially to develop the Nehru Stadium Complex, which was renovated into a brand new facility for the Commonwealth Games last year, as a major football centre.

The agreement, signed by SAI secretary Gopal Krishna and AIFF general secretary Kushal Das in presence of Sports Minister Ajay Maken and Heavy Industries Minister Praful Patel, who is also the AIFF president, will give football a big boost in the country in general and in Delhi in particular.

AIFF will also get to use the practice fields outside the stadium and other facilities in the complex absolutely free for 50 days and that should help the federation to conduct all its national and international events during the year.

On its part the federation will take care of the upkeep of the facilities, including the repairs and relaying of the main pitch in the stadium.

"SAI will also provide AIFF the outside practice ground of the stadium free of cost for 50 days in a year along with other necessary facilities available in the stadium for the smooth conduct of national and international football tournaments," a sports ministry release stated.

The AIFF will give SAI its calendar of events for the year and the number of days it intends to use the facilities. It has already decided to host the SAFF tournament in December and the Nehru Cup next year besides other national and international events. In the remaining period coaching camps and clinics will be held.

"AIFF will hold SAFF Football Tournament in December, 2011, Nehru Cup Football Tournament 2012, international matches, domestic tournaments and for the remaining period out of 40 days, it will hold coaching camps and clinics related to football," the release said.

Patel said the deal is a major step towards improving the standard of football in the country as it provides the best infrastructure for the players.

He also requested the sports minister to explore the possibility of providing residential accommodation to AIFF so that it can set up a football academy.

In his response, Maken stated that SAI has additional floor area where it could think of constructing residential accommodation.

He said that installation of retractable seats will also be looked into by SAI to increase the seating capacity of the stadium.

Maken also said a state-of-the-art National Institute of Sports Science will come up in the stadium on a 2.50 Lakh- 4 Lac sq.feet of space and it will be the best in the world.