The onus is on football fans in Kerala to demand a proper pro league on the lines of GPL. Only then will stadiums be kept in shape due to regular use and fans pressure. U need a footballing calendar in Keralabefore anything else. Sports is a dirty business the world over, its futile to wish it will change overnight ( blatter/platini/infantino/sebastain coe& now even Franz "Kaiser"...no matter who is the leader (sportsmen/politicians), there always seems to be corruption)
On a visit to Kolkata a few days ago....got a chance to visit both MB & EB grounds.must say EB is far superior (except for the Aryan bit). In MB ground the pitch is forced to be very narrow bcoz of strange things ( there seems to be a badly managed kitchen garden behind 1 goal post, there are 2 cricket practice pitches( which can easily go behind the goalposts), there are concrete extensions and tent houses on the ground, which can easily be incorporated into the stands). In present conditions it is unfit for even ileague. At best its a bad training facility. Btw there were hockey goalposts as it was hockey season meaning team cant really have afternoon practice.
MB Officials are very bad at maintaining the club premises. One, they do not have slightest idea of how a sports club is maintained, two, they are always busy in politicking. And three, nobody exerts pressure on them to tidy up the club premises (party because the fans haven't seen any good clud so no idea formed, and partly most are interested in the foreign recruitment only and nothing else). Lastly, to be fair to the management, any intervention in an army real estate is extremely difficult, and deserves utmost resolve and tenacity, which the club management doesn't have.
I am only talking of the club ground,,,the rest of the premises is understood....u can easily have a good sized quality training pitch/backup match day pitch by making minor adjustments, which doesn't need army's approval.
Having almost a 3rd of the playing surface mis-utilised is criminal.
By the way, our India National Team has hardly ever played at Salt Lake Stadium. One can count on fingers - 3-4 times in last 3 decades. Hopefully atleast 1 of these AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers can be organised at Salt Lake Stadium.
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So, the club premises is the most neglected area.
Having almost a 3rd of the playing surface mis-utilised is criminal.
Hopefully atleast 1 of these AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers can be organised at Salt Lake Stadium.