AIFF yet to take decision for considering Payyanadu football stadium for tournament

All India Football Federation (AIFF) is yet to take a final decision for considering Payyanadu football stadium at Manjeri in the district for hosting coming edition of federation cup football tournament. AIFFground inspection manager Sanjay Kumar who evaluated the work progress at Payyanadu stadium on Tuesday , said that the federation cannot give any assurance regarding the stadium for hosting the tournament scheduled in January 2014 .

Though the works in the stadium are yet to be completed the district authorities were hopeful that AIFF will consider the stadium for the tournament.

The work of the football academy cum sports complex project, which was expected to be completed one year ago, was indefinitely delayed for last several months due to the fund crunch. Recently the chief minister Oommen Chandy had visited the football stadium which is being set up as part of the sports development project and he had also offered financial aid of Rs 4 crore for the completion of the project.

Sanjay Kumar said that he would submit detailed report regarding the stadium visit to AIFF soon.

"The work is progressing fast but I cannot comment anything about the chances of awarding tournament to this stadium at present. There are big teams and players in the tournament. So the stadium should have the capacity and facility to host such a tournament", Sanjay Kumar said.

AIFF has awarded the next edition of Federation Cup to Kerala. The state government is actively considering stadiums in Kochi, Kozhikode and Manjeri to host the tournament.

District Collector K Biju and District Football Association Secretary Salim were accompanied the AIFF representative during his stadium visit.


[TOI]