Shillong, Jan 15: Shillong is likely to host two international matches of the Indian football team schedule to be held in March. The first match is an international friendly to be played between India and Maldives either on March 19 or 20. The second match, an AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifier, is scheduled on March 25 between hosts India and Bangladesh.
A delegation of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) will be visiting Shillong to inspect the pitch and the facilities at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Polo on January 20.
Meghalaya Football Association (MFA) president Hamletson Dohling told The Shillong Times on Wednesday that the confirmation on Shillong hosting the international matches will be known after the inspection. He, however, said that the stadium is ready to host international matches after it was fully renovated recently.
Dohling added that there maybe be some issues which will need to be resolved, and assured that it will be done before the scheduled inspection by the AFC delegation.
“We are hopeful that the AFC delegation will be happy with the facilities and quality of the football pitch in the stadium,” Dohling added.
He said that the association would like to express its gratefulness to the people of the state for their love of football. According to Dohling, the AIFF made this offer to the MFA after seeing the craze for the game among the people.
“We have always seen a huge turnout for matches of major tournaments hosted in the State. I feel there is no point of holding football matches without a crowd,” the MFA president said.
He also said that it will be an honour for the state and for the thousands of football fans if Shillong gets to host these two matches.
Meanwhile, the MFA president informed that the association has full support of the State Government in preparing for these international matches.
Dohling also expressed his gratitude to the AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey for offering the MFA a chance to host two matches involving the Blue Tigers.
“We are all delighted and happy with the offer which has come from the AIFF,” MFA president added.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh may unleash their latest addition in their squad in the form of Premier League and FA Cup player Hamza Choudhury.
Choudhury, who plays for Leicester City and has also won the FA Cup with Leicester, recently secured an NOC from the English Football Association in September last year to play for Bangladesh.
The 27-year old Leicester midfielder was born and raised in Loughborough, England and has Bangladeshi ancestry because of his grandparents, making him eligible to represent Bangladesh. The EPL midfielder has acquired his Bangladeshi passport in August 24.
He is the only British Asian currently playing in the PL.
While India, ranked 126th in the latest FIFA rankings, is relatively better placed than Bangladesh, currently at 186th, the neighbours would certainly be bolstered by Choudhury’s Premier League experience.
