2 years on, covers yet to come off Cooperage

Cooperage, the hub of Indian football in Western India is yet to witness big time football. And it has been over two years since Mumbaikars saw some competitive football.

The stadium which has witnessed the best of Indian football was renovated in the year 2011 and an artificial turf, thanks to Western India Football Association’s (WIFA) sanction of $2.5 million, is all in place, but no action.

It has been over two years, the battle off the field between football association and the state government has been going around, and with the attitude of the people concerned, things look gloomy for this beautiful game to make a come back at this stadium.

WIFA were to pay Rs 4.72 crore as outstanding taxes to the state government, but after WIFA and the state government came to an understanding the former were to pay Rs 1.50 crore, which was paid.

“We were to pay Rs 4.72 crore according to the state government, but WIFA and state government came to an understanding, and the final amount of Rs 1.50 crore as paid in the month of May this year, and we are waiting for the final word for the office in mantrayala,” said WIFA official Henry Menezes said on Thursday.

“There have been many hurdles and we overcame them. Now, the ball is in court of Mantrayala and we are hopeful, we would get the nod,” said Menezes.

All the I-league matches last year, of the home teams Mumbai FC and Air India, were played in Pune. However, with All India Football Federation adopting the home-and-away format for the Federation Cup tournament as well, even Mumbai Tigers may face some difficult time this season.