Shillong, July 11: The city of Shillong is gearing up to host the prestigious Durand Cup, with the state scheduled to host six matches, starting with the inaugural game on August 2.
The Meghalaya government on Thursday held coordination meetings with Army officials to streamline efforts for hosting the 133rd Durand Cup.
Apart from Shillong, other matches will also be played in Kolkata, Kokrajhar(Assam) and Jamshedpur (Jharkhand).
The tournament will take place at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, which is currently undergoing renovations to feature natural grass for the matches.
Kolkata’s Mohun Bagan is the reigning champion who defeated East Bengal last year to lift the trophy.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Dr. Vijay Kumar the Commissioner and Secretary of Meghalaya, confirmed the updates stressing that despite ongoing renovations, the stadium aims to be ready in time to host the matches.
He noted that General of Indian Army, General Malik has commended the efforts, foreseeing JN Stadium as the best in Northeast India once renovations are complete.
Four teams are set to compete in Shillong: Shillong Lajong FC, alongside ISL sides Goa FC and Hyderabad FC, and the Nepal National Team, scheduled to play their group stage matches.
Dr. Vijay added that after the renovation, JN Stadium is completed the seating capacity will expand to accommodate 90,000 spectators.
When asked about preparations, Dr. Vijay stated that they are progressing rapidly, with strategic measures to manage traffic congestion discussed regularly with the Police Department to ensure smooth vehicle movement during the tournament.
Regarding the recent incident where a pressure group checked the Labour License and Work Permits of laborers engaged in renovating the JN Stadium, Dr. Vijay declined to comment, but mentioned ongoing discussions with the laborers as the next ten days are crucial for completing all renovation work.
Dr. Vijay also informed that almost all renovation work is completed, with only the final stages remaining.
