Bibhash Lodh, BS News Agency: Apart from the three main Mohun Bagan, East Bengal, Mohammedan, the president of the Indian Football Federation, Kalyan Choubey has given a happy news to the officials, members, supporters, and even fan clubs of the clubs of various divisions participating in the Kolkata Football League. Keeping in mind a certain category of football fans, he is making arrangements to sell a portion of the tickets for the Brazil and Uruguay matches to be held at Yuva Bharati at a discounted rate, so that those specific football lovers can get those tickets and come to the field to watch the game.
Kalyan told the media on Thursday, 'The excitement among football fans in India is high around the Brazil and Uruguay matches to be held at Yuva Bharati on October 3 and October 6. There is especially extra excitement and keen interest in watching the match among the people of Kolkata and the state. In that group, there are the three major teams playing in the Kolkata Football League, Mohun Bagan, East Bengal, Mohammedan, as well as the managers, footballers, members-supporters, and even fan club members of various divisions. They wanted to know from him through various media how to collect tickets to watch the India-Brazil and India-Uruguay matches. The members-supporters of the three major teams and their fan club members regularly go to the field to watch the games and cheer for their favorite teams. Therefore, keeping them in mind, arrangements are being made to deliver a certain number of tickets for the Yuva Bharati spectator seats to them through the IFA. There are about 14,000 spectator seats behind the two goalposts in the B-2 and D-2 blocks. Basically, these tickets will be available at a discounted rate. Not only the people of the league-playing clubs, but also coaches-footballers of various football academies, former footballers, and people with football interests get the opportunity to watch these two important and exciting matches, for which discounted tickets are also being arranged. To get these tickets, you will have to contact the IFA administration. I have asked them to arrange for them to be given from the counters of the three majors in Kolkata as well as from the IFA. For those who will not get the opportunity to come to the field and watch the game, fan parks will be arranged in the districts and at various places on the model of the FIFA World Cup to show the game on giant screens.
Earlier, there was an international friendly match between Argentina and Venezuela in Yuva Bharati, but this time there is a lot of hype around India's match with Brazil and Uruguay. According to Federation President Kalyan Choub, although India previously played against a team higher in the FIFA rankings like Uruguay in the Nehru Cup, recently it has not faced a heavyweight team like Panama, Uruguay, or Brazil. Naturally, a lot of attention has to be paid to the organization and management of the match for Tier One FIFA friendly. Brazil is coming to Kolkata with a delegation of 90 people and Uruguay with 60 people to play the match. In addition to the coach, coaching staff, footballers, many associates will be present. The fact that so many people came with a team is a lesson for him too. It was good to see that Federation President Kalyan understood, knew or learned this so far. Because during his time playing the AFC Asian Cup, the Indian senior women's football team's footballers did not even get the right kits until the day before the match. It is hoped that Kalyan will be able to use the experience he has gained while organizing matches in Brazil and Uruguay if he is the Federation President in the future. And if he does not hold the position of President, he will still get the opportunity to implement these experiences in other ways.
Kalyan also said, ' This is the second time that the observers and representatives of that country's football organization have come to Kolkata for the Brazil match. When they came last time, the condition of the Yuva Bharati field was not that good due to the Durand Cup. But after the Durand final, the field maintenance started with warfooting. It has yielded results. The field is in much better condition than before. The Brazilian inspection team is happy with the grass and bounce of the field. The youth team's dressing room and other infrastructure are being renovated. It will be completed before the Brazil match.'
However, Federation President Kalyan Choubey stumbled while answering a question about one thing. He was asked whether the Indian football team will face Panama in Bengaluru on September 25. National team coach Khalid Jamil had called 26 footballers to the national camp in Bengaluru on September 15. But in the first two days of preparation, no more than 16 footballers joined the camp. Since East Bengal was playing in the AFC Champions League and went to Amman to play the Al Hussein match, it is acceptable that four red and yellow footballers did not go, but is it acceptable that several clubs including Bengaluru FC and Mohun Bagan Super Giant did not send footballers to the national camp on time? Two footballers of Mohun Bagan Super Giant, Manbir and Sahal, will join the national camp if they play the last match of the Kolkata Football League on September 19. What is the federation thinking about not sending footballers to the national camp and holding them back to play domestic league matches? Kalyan could not give a good answer. It is understood that he wants to avoid conflict with the Kolkata club for special reasons. He only said that it will be discussed with the clubs so that they cooperate in every way in the national interest. Such things have been heard before. But conflicts or such non-cooperation between clubs without footballers in the national team has not stopped. Time will tell whether it will happen in the future.