Siliguri gears up for soccer

A roller busy with work at the Kanchenjungha Stadium in Siliguri on Thursday. Picture by Passang Yolmo

TT, Siliguri, Feb. 9: Around 3,000 tickets of the I-League (football match) to be held here on February 12 were sold on the first day after the ticket counters were opened today by the Siliguri Mahakuma Krira Parishad.

The match between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan Club will be held at the Kanchenjungha Stadium here and both the teams will arrive at Bagdogra tomorrow, SMKP sources said.

The league is organised by the All India Football Federation in association with the SMKP.

"Nobody would be allowed to carry water pouches as arrangements for drinking water will be made at different places in the stadium," Arup Ratan, the SMKP secretary, told a news conference here today.

The ticket price ranges between Rs 100 and Rs 500 and would be sold daily at the counters outside the stadium between 11am and 4pm.

Dipankar Chakraborty, the ground secretary of East Bengal Club, pointed out an issue related to the tickets. "It came to our notice today that name of a brand that is no longer associated with the Mohun Bagan club had been printed in the tickets sold. Those who have bought tickets can come to the counter and get them exchanged tomorrow."

"But those who cannot exchange tickets would also be allowed to enter the ground with the old tickets on the match day and we will put a sticker on the ticket at the time of the entry. We will sell fresh tickets from tomorrow," he added.

State tourism minister Gautam Deb said he would support East Bengal Club.