Big time football returns to Nehru Stadium with I-League

New Delhi, April 15 (IANS) Big time football is all set to return to the showpiece Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, the main venue of the 2010 Commonwealth Games, as the All India Football Federation (AIFF) is planning to host I-League matches from the next season.
The sports ministry Thursday declared that the Nehru Stadium, built in 1982 for the Asian Games, will be made a hub for football.
All India Football Federation (AIFF) secretary general Kushal Das told IANS that the federation is now seriously thinking of hosting some I-League matches at the Nehru Stadium, which was renovated for the Commonwealth Games at a cost of Rs.961 cores. The stadium has a capacity of 60,000.
"After sports minister Ajay Maken announced that the Nehru Stadium will be developed as the hub for football, the AIFF is now seriously thinking of having some I-League matches there," said Das.
Das, however, ruled out having any international matches this year at the Nehru Stadium.
"There is no chance of having international matches at Nehru Stadium because the Olympic qualifiers will be held in Pune and the World Cup qualifiers in Chennai," he said.
Maken said Thursday that the Nehru Stadium will be the hub for football and also proposed that the Delhi-based Indian Arrows, run by AIFF, could shift their base from Gurgaon to the stadium.
"In the days to come the Nehru Stadium will be the most important stadium for football. Indian Arrows can shift their base here since the stadium will be used for residential purpose for the elite footballers as well. We are trying to build residential facilities for 150 sportsperson," said Maken.
The sports ministry said that Sports Authority of India (SAI) along with AIFF are trying to lay the main pitch and the practice pitches.
Das agreed that the turf at the Nehru Stadium is in poor shape.
"A lot of work needs to be done on the pitch and it will take some time to get everything in place before we start hosting I-League matches.

FIFA sanctions $2 million grant for Cooperage

In what can potentially be the answer to city’s infrastructural woes, FIFA has sanctioned $2 million for the renovation of Cooperage football ground, a top All India Football Federation official informed.

The amount has been granted as a part of FIFA’s Win in India with India programme, and Cooperage is the only ground from the country to receive the financial assistance. The decision was announced during a meeting of Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) Ad Hoc committee for Indian Professional Football in New Delhi on Wednesday. The meeting was presided by AFC president and FIFA presidential candidate Mohammad bin Hammam.

“Cooperage has a nostalgia attached to it, and it is a very important venue for football in the country. It is a known fact that the ground needs to be refurbished and that is the reason why we have decided to sanction the amount to Cooperage,” AIFF general secretary Kushal Das told DNA. “FIFA has allotted $2.5 million for stadium renovations. Out of that, $2 million is allotted to Cooperage and the rest of the amount will be divided among other venues. This grant does not include the cost FIFA is bearing for laying of the artificial turfs which are sanctioned by them,” Das added.

The Western India Football Association (WIFA) has already chalked out the plan to refurbish Cooperage. It is learnt that apart from new flood lights, temporary stands with proper seating facilities will be created, which can accommodate up to 6,500 people. The dressing rooms will also be renovated. “We all know that Mumbai desperately needs a good football ground and our aim is to provide that. It is very good news for us,” said CEO, WIFA, Henry Menezes.

The process to lay the artificial turf at Cooperage has already begun and is expected to take two to three months at least. But because of a High Court order, the WIFA cannot make physical changes to the ground. An AFC committee will inspect the progress at the venue in July.

Meanwhile, there was more good news in store for the city-based clubs as the AIFF eased its stand against the three clubs who were to be eliminated from the I-League. Air India, ONGC and Bangalore-based HAL have been given an extension of one year to meet the guidelines set by the AFC.

AIFF give Air India, ONGC a lifeline

While admitting that institutional clubs didn't comply with Asian Football Confederation (AFC) club norms, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Wednesday decided that — Indian Arrows, HAL, ONGC and Air India — would take part in the I League for the rest of this season.

Sitting alongside Mohammad bin Hammam, president of the AFC, at a press conference in New Delhi, Praful Patel, the president of the AIFF said the clubs had been given the extra time to comply with the the AFC's club licensing criteria.

The criteria the clubs failed to meet was for the clubs to be separate commercial entities. This was not the case in the case of Air India, HAL and ONGC, which were part of the parent Public Sector Units or the Indian Arrows, which is owned and managed by the AIFF. Arrows are currently 9th in the 14-team I League, while HAL, Air India and ONGC are ranked 10th , 13th and last on the table.