The idea of holding the match came up in January when BMC sent a report to FIFA.
For the first-time ever an international football match is set to take stage in Mumbai in the coming days. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is organising the city's maiden soccer match featuring the national football team and a South American team at the Shahaji Raje Krida Sankul— Andheri Sports Complex.
According to officials, the match will be played at the newly decked up football stadium at the civic-run complex. It will feature the Indian football team pitted against the national soccer team of Puerto Rico.
"Preparations are in full swing for the match, which is been scheduled to be held on September 3 or 5. The final date is yet to be decided," a senior BMC official told dna.
He added that the international football is been organised by the civic body along with the Mumbai district football association, which has spearheaded the entire planning of the mega sports event.
The idea of holding the match came up in January when BMC sent a report to the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the international governing body of association football, futsal and beach soccer.
"In November of last year, a FIFA representative had inspected the football stadium at the sports complex. Post the visit of their official, FIFA had tendered a list of necessities which were a must for the stadium," the official said, while adding that the civic body had swung into action based on the list.
In a matter of six months the BMC installed improved floodlights, renovated dressing rooms, decked up the tunnel for players' entry and organised their accommodation. "We (BMC) also laid new grass on the playing field, which was especially imported from Indonesia," informed the officer. The civic body is also revamping the audience seating gallery with plans to construct special sections and enclosures for VIPs.
The civic body, which used to rent out the stadium for various socio-cultural event including Mumbai Police functions, religious events and even marriages, has now decided to reserve the stadium premise only for sports. The new and much-needed attitude of the civic body towards the utilisation of sports ground has also ensured a new revenue model.
The decked up stadium and premises has caught the eye of the Indian Super League, which has also shown interest in staging matches.
"There is also talk of organising the FIFA under-17 World Cup at the stadium. However, the decision on that note is still pending with FIFA, which has given its approval for the India versus Puerto Rico match," said the officer.
On Wednesday, a meeting on the scheduled football match and a review of the work done at the stadium was held in the chambers of Additional Municipal Commissioner Sanjay Deshmukh, who remained unavailable to comment on the subject, even after repeated attempts to contact.
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 "International football match in Mumbai")
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