-------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Goanetters annual meet in Goa is scheduled for Dec 27, 2005 @ 4pm | | | | Watch this space for more details | | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- AIFF should sort out venue problems Newindpress.com
December 24 2005 00:00 IST BANGALORE: Knock-out games are held at neutral venues in European soccer. Ditto for games at other big tournaments too. Nowhere in the World is a league game organised at a neutral venue unless the concerned club is penalised for crowd trouble and their 'home' stadium is banned for period from holding home games. In 1996-97, when the first edition of the National Football League was held, the major concern was that clubs here did not have a stadium of their own. In fact, apart from Karnataka, no other state association owns a stadium. As such, it was foolish to plump for the European concept without improvement in infrastructure. In the 10th year of NFL, the schedules were interrupted for want of venues. The Nehru Stadium in Fatorda was built in 1989 in record time for the Nehru Gold Cup International tournament. The State government was totally behind the project. Then Sports Authority of Goa took it over. That brought in cricket from the backdoors into the venue with the GCA laying claims to organise matches. The Salt Lake Stadium, the biggest in Asia with a capacity close to 1,35,000, is another government venture. Problems with the pitch have compounded NFL's problems. The big three of Kolkata football, Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and Mohd. Sporting, thus feel the pinch. It is shocking that after completing 100 years, they do not have a stadium which can host their own games. Cooperage, Mahindra United's home at Mumbai, is not any different. It is used more for marriage functions than football. Only JCT can boast of a true home venue as they have their own ground which can have covered stands apart from the stadium in Ludhiana. With the All India Football Federation identifying Bangalore, Delhi and Kozhikode as neutral venues in case of need, the very concept and purpose of the NFL is defeated. Perhaps, the AIFF has no other alternative if they are to keep the NFL rolling. This could well be a short term arrangement. But where is the guarantee that similar reasons will not crop up again. In the 10th year of NFL, the schedules were interrupted for want of venues. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Goa - 2005 Santosh Trophy Champions | | | | Support Soccer Activities at the grassroots in our villages | | Vacationing in Goa this year-end - Carry and distribute Soccer Balls | --------------------------------------------------------------------------
