Mariners to host remaining matches at the venue under floodlights
Kolkata: The roadblocks are cleared for Mohun Bagan to host their remaining I League matches at the Rabindra Sarobar Stadium starting with the match against Shillong Lajong tomorrow. The Green Tribunal today passed an order in favour of the Kolkata club to host its home matches at the venue. It also puts an end to the concerns of the Bagan officials who wanted to host the I League matches at the Rabindra Sarobar.
According to Mohun Bagan assistant secretary Srinjoy Bose, “This is a victory for football in the city as we could bring the I League matches to heart of the city. I must thank all the authorities concerned for allowing us to host the I League matches in Rabindra Sarobar stadium.”
The State Sports Minister Aroop Biswas and Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajiv Kumar have extended full support to Mohun Bagan for hosting the match against Shillong Lajong on Friday in such a short notice.
“I must specially thank the Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajiv Kumar and State Sports Minister Aroop Biswas to extend their full support to organize the match tomorrow at such notice. It would not have been possible to host the match tomorrow without getting their co-operation,” said Srinjoy to xtratime.in
It was decided that 4500 tickets will be printed for tomorrow’s match with a preference being given to the members. Tickets will be given for sale after 12 pm.
Mohun Bagan coach Sanjay Sen was not too perturbed by the venue. The gaffer after the practice session today admitted, “We are not too bothered whether we have to play in front of an empty stands at Barasat. I do not have a control over such a situation. We have to be prepared to play under any circumstance. We have already played at Barasat stadium and trained at the Rabindra Sarobar stadium. We played all our matches in Barasat last season. The club management tried to host the matches at Rabindra Sarobar since there was an option of playing the matches there.”
The Bagan coach will be happy to see his side playing on the natural turf as the chances of carrying any injury by his footballers will be less compared to matches being played on astro turf. According to Sanjay Sen, “It is always good to play on a grass turf as chances of an injury are less for all the players.”
Shillong Lajong coach Thanboi Singto also did not seemed to be bothered with the venue. Sanjay Sen’s counterpart in his pre match press conference said, “Venue is not a factor. Our players have practiced on artificial turf in Shillong. Not a problem.”
Mohun Bagan’s I League opener against Churchill Brothers at Rabindra Sarobar stadium last Sunday was cancelled following a stay order by National Green Tribunal. The Green Tribunal of Kolkata had put a stay order on the I League matches to be played under floodlight at the venue.
Noted environment activist Subhash Dutta has moved the National Green Tribunal alleging that the matches to be held at Rabindra Sarobar Stadium could disturb nearby eco-sensitive zone which includes a large lake—home to diverse flora and fauna and protected under the National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems.