Kolkata: IMG-R officials like Sundar Raman and others had a meeting with Sports Minister of West Bengal in Nabanna today regarding Salt Lake stadium as the venue for ISL matches.
Aroop Biswas had clearly made it clear to the officials and stated that as Salt Lake stadium is one of the prime venues for hosting the matches of FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2017, they cannot take any risk on this venue. It is also heard that if everything goes well then Salt Lake stadium may host the final of the 2017 U-17 World Cup.
West Bengal Government along with AIFF and IFA has to finish up all the re-innovation work before October this year as the FIFA officials will come for final visit and they take a final call then.
So the State Government and AIFF with IFA do not want to take any risk on the stadium as a lot of work is still left and the workers are working day and night to set up the stadium in an almost newest way and fulfill all the demands made by FIFA last time they were here.
ISL franchisee Atletico De Kolkata is in dilemma on their home venue and practice venue. ATK officials have three venues in hand but they need to fulfill the ISL criteria at first. The three venues are Barasat Stadium, Mohun Bagan Ground and Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru.
Although, Barasat stadium has a good astro turf and its a floodlit ground but the other facilities like dressing room, toilets etc are in horrible conditions. The gallery of Barasat too has a poor capacity and it completely denies a huge crowd from entering the stadium.
On the other hand, although Mohun Bagan ground has floodlights with bucket seats but it is lacking a proper dressing room and hospitality box. The most important thing which goes against Mohun Bagan as a venue is that it is under Army and as per Army rules the whole of Maidan remains closed from 1-15th of October when the ISL will be in full flow.
Meanwhile, Bengaluru’s Kanteerava stadium which is also the home venue for I-League club Bengaluru FC is the only way out for ATK officials as Kanteerava stadium fulfills all the demands and criterias given by AIFF and IMG-R. If ATK officials chooses Kantteerava as their venue, then they will lose a huge amount of fan base which they would have in the city.
It is expected that ATK officials will keep all these things in mind and take a decision soon on the practice venue and match venue which is to be ATK’s home venue. ATK under new Jose Molina will be travelling to Spain in the third week of August for their pre-season camp in Madrid which commences from 22nd August.