M F AHMAD
Daltonganj, Nov. 30: Preparations for the interstate football tournament in Daltonganj are in full swing.
A senior member of the organizing committee, Shiv Kr Mishra informed that the tournament will continue for one week, beginning December 15.
Bihar, West Bengal, Delhi, Jharkhand etc states are to take part in the tournament, said the secretary of tournament, M K Lalee.
There will also be a match of women football teams of Kolkata and Varanasi. The committee recently sat and discussed modalities of all fund generation for the tournament which is a multi-lakh affair.
The stand or the gallery in the police line can comfortably accommodate 6000-7000 spectators if Covid protocols are to be followed. But keeping in mind the over-enthusiasm of the people of Palamu for football matches, the crowd of the spectators is expected to swell.
Working president of this committee K Vijay Shankar who is also the Additional Superintendent of Police informed that ticket prices range from Rs. 10 (for the groundlings per match) to Rs. 500 and Rs.1, 000.
A curb on ‘pass’ other than people involved in essential services like medical team, press contingent, camera team, telecast broadcast team, senior ex-footballer, etc can further help raise the fund.
Sources said that anti-stampede measures are also to be put in the ground as there have been instances in the past when gate crashing was done by the spectators on being denied entry to the ground.
The tournament committee is drawing plans for the grand gala opening and an equally impressive concluding ceremony.
