The Indian Super League’s first edition earned plaudits from the city’s sports lovers for the way it revolutionised football by bringing the fans in huge numbers back to the Nehru stadium.
But the renovation work needed ahead of the second edition has upset some.
The work is yet to begin and since there can be no major activity inside the stadium till the conclusion of the ISL, schools that have booked the stadium for their sports meets, athletes and coaches have been left in limbo.
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The first high-profile casualty has been the National inter-state athletics meet.
The four-day event, which was scheduled to be held at the main venue from July 10 to 13, may now be shifted to the Nehru ‘B’ practice ground.
“This is certainly a blow for us, but we’ll have to manage with it considering the universality of ISL,” said Tamil Nadu Athletics Association president W.I. Davaram.
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Davaram said there were no floodlights at the practice ground and as a result the TNAA would have to complete the events before dusk (which will be tough on the athletes in this hot and humid weather).
“There are also no toilets and we have to install mobile toilets,” he said.
C.K. Valson, secretary, Athletics Federation of India, said it would be ideal if a major National championship such as the inter-state meet was held at the Nehru Stadium, which has all the built-in facilities like spectator area, media centre, Technical Information Centre, Competition Area Office, among other things.
He said, however, a clear picture would emerge after the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu’s Executive Committee meeting on July 6.
No problemsHowever, an ISL source said it had no qualms about the National athletics meet being held in the main venue.
“Talks are going on, but nothing has been finalised with the stadium authority. We are not in possession of the stadium, so there is no question of stopping anyone from using it. We don’t have any problems in starting the relaying work after the completion of the national athletics meet,” he said.
Schools, which regularly host meets at the Nehru Stadium, are an unhappy lot.
A Physical Education Director of a popular school said he had booked the stadium for a school meet in June, and after repeated reminders, he was told by the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu that the meet would have to be cancelled.
“For one sport, other sports have to suffer, isn’t it? This is not fair,” he said.
A source close to AFI hoped the State Government would intervene to sort out the issue.
He said: “Stadiums can’t be closed for a long period without using it just because of one sport.”
Once the MOU is signed between SDAT and ISL, work on the field will start (growing of new grass will take a minimum of 90 days) and there can be further curb on athletes.
An ISL spokesperson justified the relaying work: “Last time we didn’t have much time to prepare the ground, but this time we are taking a lot of time to prepare a world class pitch. The new pitch will be used for the under-17 World Cup if at all Chennai hosts it.
“It is a huge investment for the World Cup. After all, Tamil Nadu football is going to benefit from this.
“And moreover, similar work has been carried out in Kolkata, Pune, Delhi and North East (Guwahati)”, he said.
( With inputs from Ayon Sengupta )