Kolkata derby uncertain because of stadium renovation

It seems like the football crazy Kolkata people are not going to witness the season’s first derby match between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan because of the Salt Lake stadium renovation, which is going to held on December 9. Though it was earlier decided that Asia’s biggest football stadium will undergo a renovation at the end of this year, as there is a problem with the stadium flood light. But yesterday Bengal’s Sports Minister Mr. Madan Mitra made it clear in a media release that from the third week of November, Salt Lake stadium will be unavailable for hosting any football match, which means that there is a strong chance for a change of venue of the derby match between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan.

Meanwhile this announcement has created another problem as there are talks of hosting a match between Brazil Masters and Sports Minister XI on December 8, the day before the derby clash, where top football players from all over the world, like Bebeto, Dunga, Zinedine Zidane are going to show their magic. Kolkata people might miss that as well, apart from their most awaited season’s first derby match.

“Salt Lake stadium will undergo a minor renovation and while the floodlights will have to be installed. So the stadium will remain shut for few days”, said Mr. Madan Mitra to The Telegraph.

Meanwhile it is still unclear whether the match between Brazil Masters and Sports Minister XI is going to held at another venue or going to be postponed, but there is are talks going on to hold the derby match at Siliguri stadium, which has recently hosted the 34the Federation Cup.

“The derby can be shifted to some other venue while the exhibition match could be postponed”. Mr. Mitra added.