KAAA refuses to budge from its stand

Fed Cup to start on May 3; BFC told to opt for different venue

With the Karnataka Amateur Athletics Association (KAAA) asserting its right to use the Sree Kanteerava Stadium for the Junior Federation Cup, the Bengaluru Football Club is still on the lookout for a venue to host their Federation Cup tie against Aizawl FC on Tuesday.

Officials of JSW, owners of BFC, met the home minister G Parameshwara, also the President of KAAA, on Friday seeking permission for the game but their request was turned down.

The Junior Federation Cup is scheduled from May 3 to 5, with the evening’s events scheduled from 5.00 to 8.30 pm.

BFC were keen to schedule the match after the day’s athletics events but KAAA officials pointed out that even that wouldn’t be possible. While BFC’s Chief Operating Officer Mustafa Ghouse said the club will make an official statement, their Chief Technical Officer Mandar Tamhane assured that a solution will be found soon.

“I am in Aizawl with the team so I am not aware of the developments there (in Bengaluru),” said Mandar when asked about club’s decision on the upcoming game. “We’ll come back and soon will have a solution to this problem.”

While Bengaluru do have an option of heading back to their previous home ground -- the Bangalore Football Stadium -- for the tie against Aizawl, they can also explore the option of rescheduling their matches to April 6 if the All India Football Federation permits.

Meanwhile, Uday K Prabhu, the vice-president of KAAA said the athletics body was confident of going ahead with their meet as they had booked the stadium in advance.

“We have booked the stadium well in advance and there is no way we will allow the football match to happen at the same venue. Athletes have all the rights to participate in an event which is meant for them,” said Prabhu at a press conference here on Saturday.

“Due to the extreme heat conditions, we have decided to conduct the event under floodlights. The BFC officials requested us to give them the stadium post 8:00 pm but it isn’t logistically possible,” added Prabhu.

Around 500 athletes from different states will participate in the event, which will act as selection trials for the Asian Junior Championship in Vietnam in August.