By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: A day after facing a huge embarrassment over the deplorable condition of the ground of the Jawaharlal Nehru Sports Complex (JNSC), the State Government virtually expressed its inability to meet the two-month deadline fixed by the Asian Football Federation (AFC) for improving the ground and other facilities.
“It is impossible to improve the ground conditions and set up infrastructures in two months,” Deputy Chief Minister also in-charge of Sports, Bindo M Lanong, told reporters on Monday.
The local giants Shillong Lajong FC might lose their place in the I League if the authorities failed to fulfill the conditions.
Citing funds shortage for the delay in the work to improve the infrastructure, Lanong said, “It is difficult to get funds from the State Plan as it will affect other departments.”
The JNSC does not have in place the infrastructure required for live telecast of matches, no system for dope test, no medical room and no separate VIP and Press box in the stadium.
The minister, meanwhile, tried to blame the improvement work done in 2010, saying, “the grasses should have lasted a little longer.”
The Meghalaya Football Association (MFA) had engaged an expert from Kolkata to improve the ground in 2010 for which the Government provided nearly Rs 24 lakh.
The JNSC ground, however, deteriorated due to the ongoing Under-19 league conducted by the Shillong Sports Association (SSA).
Lanong said there is a plan to lay an artificial turf in the stadium within this year and that effort is on to manage the funds.