By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The local football fans would have to dig a bit deep into their pockets this time to catch the action of the remaining I-League home matches of Shillong Lajong since the rate of tickets has been increased.
Instead of the usual prices of Rs 50, 100 and 150, Shillong Lajong team management have raised the the rates to Rs 80 for opened gallery, Rs 150 for covered gallery with cement surface, and Rs 200 for the covered gallery with chairs.
“Lajong team management is spending lot of money to run the club and hence a rise in the price of tickets was unavoidable. The new rates have been fixed at the minimum possible under the circumstances,” Meghalaya Football Association (MFA) vice president Bor Diengdoh said while addressing a press conference here on Friday.
The tickets for Lajong’s first home match against Goan giants Churchill Brothers to be played at the newly laid artificial turf at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on January 18 would be on sale from Monday. After playing Churchill, Lajong would lock horns with Dempo on January 22nd.
Lajong has chosen three outlets in the city – Manbha Communication (Laitumkhrah), Yogesh Enterprise (Khyndailad) and Aircel store (Iewduh), and Friends’ Communication in Nongpoh, Ri Bhoi district, to sell the tickets. Besides, counters would also be opened in Polo grounds.
Diengdoh said that the MFA had written to the State Government for permission to allow Lajong to play its I-League match at the JNSC.
The ground is yet to be officially taken over by the Sports and Youth Affairs Department although work for laying of the turf was completed on January 10.
“We are hopeful that the government would allow the ground to be used for I-League matches,” Diengdoh said.
When contacted, Deputy Chief Minister in charge of Sports and Youth Affairs Bindo M Lanong said that the State Government is likely to take over the ground on Monday. “I would like to first satisfy myself whether the artificial turf has been laid as expected. I would also like to see to it that necessary corrections which were suggested during the inspection were complied with by the company,” Lanong said.
