On Wednesday, November 2, CBF President Samir Xaud made an important visit to the Pedro Pedrossian Stadium, commonly referred to as Morenão, located in Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul. This visit comes just before the inauguration of the new Football Development Center in the state, marking a significant milestone for local football.
Morenão Stadium, which opened in 1971, has a seating capacity exceeding 40,000 and serves as the primary venue for football in the region. The CBF is investing approximately R$ 1 million to revitalize the stadium's pitch, which is crucial for enhancing the quality of the playing surface and overall matchday experience.
During the visit, Xaud was accompanied by Estevâo Petrallás, the president of the Mato Grosso do Sul Football Federation (FFMS), who provided insights into the stadium's rich history and the ongoing renovation efforts. Other notable attendees included Diogo Pécora, president of the Mato Grosso Football Federation (FMF), and Alessandro Menezes, the State Secretary of Tourism, Sports, and Culture.
In an interview with CBF TV, Xaud emphasized the significance of his visit as part of a broader institutional agenda aimed at fostering stronger relationships with state federations. He expressed pride in Morenão's history, which holds a special place in the hearts of local fans, and highlighted the importance of the renovations. The stadium has previously hosted matches for the Brazil national team, including a friendly against Paraguay that ended in a 1-1 draw in 1991 and a World Cup qualifier against Venezuela in 2009 that finished 0-0.
"Today we began our institutional visit to Mato Grosso do Sul, continuing our work toward more participatory management and closer ties with the federations. We are here at Morenão, a stadium with a history shared by the entire state population, and where the CBF has provided funds to help revitalize the stadium, including replacing the pitch, irrigation, and drainage," Xaud stated. He reiterated the CBF's commitment to supporting Brazilian football as a whole, particularly smaller federations.
Estevâo Petrallás also praised Xaud's visit, noting that it had been nearly two decades since a CBF president had come to Mato Grosso do Sul. He described the visit as a source of pride and a sign of a revitalized future for football in the state. Petrallás highlighted the CBF's investment, which will not only improve the pitch but also install a new irrigation system, replace substitutes' benches, and upgrade the track with synthetic grass.
As preparations for the inauguration of the Football Development Center continue, professionals from the CBF's Development and Projects Department were present to coordinate the event details with volunteer instructors. This center will be the first of its kind in the Central-West region and marks the eighth center inaugurated by the CBF in just over a year, following similar projects in states like Rondônia, Tocantins, and Amapá.
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