Cloud over Lajong''s getting home ground facility in I-League

Shillong, June 14 (PTI) The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has asked Meghalaya to improve the ground conditions and other infrastructure at city's Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here within two months, failing which it may be considered unfit to hold first division I-League matches. Sports department sources said an AFC team, headed by its Competition Director Tokuaki Suzuki, visited the city last weekend and found the J N Sports Complex 'unplayable'. The four-member AFC team was also accompanied by I-League CEO S Dhar. "The ground is not fit for the league...the stadium also needs dressing rooms, medical room, VIP stands and a press room," the team members were quoted as saying to the Meghalaya Football Association representatives. "We will be coming to Shillong to see the ground in the mid of August and by then if the turf doesnot improve Lajong will have to play their home matches somewhere else," the team members said. A sports department official said it would be difficult to meet all the requirements stipulated by the AFC within "such a short time" as there was shortage of funds and the weather was not conducive. Over 20,000 spectators had witnessed the I League matches at the venue last season. A number of visiting players, including Indian football skipper Bhaichung Bhutia earlier expressed reservations about the ground conditions having described it as unfit for quality football.