Delhi Dynamos coach Gianluca Zambrotta admitted that the pollution level in the capital has gone beyond the limit for the team's players. The team was forced to conduct two training sessions within the hotel premises, ahead of their team’s crucial match against Kerala Blasters on Friday. In fact, even Kerala Blasters coach Steve Coppell faced the same predicament and only practiced outside for the first time today.
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Zambrotta said, “It’s not possible to practice in such conditions, early in the morning the pollution is at its peak and its almost impossible for us to get out and start training. We practiced inside, but couldn’t move forward with out set executes until today. Today we practice more, but we could feel the pinch as my players got tired earlier. It’s quite shocking to see this honestly.”
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According to Delhi Dynamo’s officials, air filters have been installed within the hotel premises. Apart from that, both teams have been given an abundance of face masks to avoid any major illness within the ranks. Coppell said, “Our team doctor inspected the conditions and gave us a green signal to play yesterday, before that the conditions were not fit enough for our players to train.”
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In fact, both team doctor’s have raised serious issues over the teams playing in Delhi itsle. Zambrotta added, “The pollution level has suddenly spiked up after Diwali, and whenever the players want to practice, the doctors disagree with it. Today was a good day, hope it continues on like this, otherwise it will be very difficult.”
Post Diwali, Delhi has recorded the worst air quality in the world, registering 700 ug/m3 on the PM level. This makes it 29 times above World Health Organisation (WHO) standards. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) also stated that this is the worst smog the city has experienced in 17 years. NGT Chairperson Swatantar Kumar said, “it seems like the government is not interested in fixing this problem. Whenever we bring up this topic, they begin the blame game. Leave sport, normal breathing will be impossible in a few years time.”
According to coaches of both teams. they are taking a training on a day to day basis.
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