By IANS
Kolkata : The All India Football Federation (AIFF) is leaving no stone unturned to host the 62nd Santosh Trophy in Jammu and Kashmir.
The AIFF, which had allotted the national championship to the insurgency-hit state, has given a third lifeline to the state after the AIFF fact-finding team was not satisfied with the preparations in the state.
At the end of the two-day visit, federation vice-president Subrata Dutta told IANS Saturday: “The popularity of the game in the state has touched our heart. Probably it is the only state where football is more popular than cricket.”
“We have to keep this point in mind and also the fact that the state had very little chance to concentrate on infrastructure development in the last couple of decades,” he said.
The tournament after two postponements could see the light of the day in May.
AIFF will make a final inspection Dec 15 before taking any decision. The latest extension comes after intervention from Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Gulam Nabi Azad.
“He (Azad) is very positive and has taken note of the incomplete job. He has also promised to form a high level organising committee to make sure that the job is completed on time.”
“We will again go and inspect the venues Dec 15 and decide on the fate of the tournament during our Annual General Meeting (AGM) Dec 22. We are keeping our fingers crossed,” Dutta, who led the two-member fact finding team, said.
He added: “We are not particularly happy with the ground conditions at the stadia. Bakshi ground needs two more dressing rooms, and even at the other grounds the dressing rooms have to be upgraded.”
“Can you believe that there are European coaches coaching some 100 students there (Jammu and Kashmir). If the people get a chance they play soccer here. Football is the love of the masses,” he said.
But the federation is not concerned with the security problems in the state. “We cannot do much about the security situation in the state. It is up to the government to provide adequate security,” Dutta said.
“We met Sports Minister Babu Singh and told him of our needs. He said that he will make necessary arrangements,” Dutta said.