Kochi stadium under-prepared; KBFC & ATK practice on a school ground
THE PLAYERS AND coaches of Kerala Blasters and Atletico de Kolkata were left disappointed when they were not allowed to practice at Kochi's Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, the venue for their match tonight, even 24 hours before the game.
The Kochi stadium which serves as the home ground for Kerala Blasters during ISL was out of order even yesterday. Because groundsmen were busy covering up the cricket pitch that's in the middle of the ground.
Playing football matches on grounds built with cricket in mind always ends up making life hard for players as well as spectators; but the fact that the teams were not allowed to get a feel of the matchday venue on the day before the game only speaks of lack of adequate preparation on the organizers' part.
The two teams had to practice on a nearby school ground. But the real concern is with the fact that a patch of the ground in the middle of the field will have unstable, newly-planted grass which increases chances of injuries.
