Meghalaya's opposition leader Conrad K. Sangma, also an ardent supporter of Shillong Lajong, Friday handed over a cheque of Rs.25,000 to sports authorities here to improve the facilities at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
Sangma handed over the cheque to Sports and Youth Affairs director Matsiewdor War. The move came after Minister Bindo M. Lanong had said it would be difficult for the government to garner funds to make the stadium fit to hold I-League matches.
"The government is poor and we should help them," Sangma told journalists, even as he appealed to Shillong Lajong fans to contribute Rs.200 each to the government to improve the stadium.
"If 50,000 Shillong Lajong fans contribute Rs.200 each, a corpus of Rs.1 crore can be generated. If the stadium is fit, the fans don't have to spend Rs.1,000 and go to Guwahati to watch a match," he said.
In fact, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has given two-months time for the upgradation of the stadium, especially the turf, failing which it would be declared unfit to hold Lajong FC's home matches in the I-League.
"The ground is unplayable. It lacks all sorts of facilities for live telecast of matches, a doping testing centre, medical room and separate VIP and press box in the stadium," Tokuaki Suzuki, the AFC Competitions Director, had told journalists here.
The AFC team would re-visit Shillong in mid August to inspect the ground condition. "If the authorities fail to improve it Shillong Lajong will have to play their home matches in another city," Suzuki said.
Indian football team captain Baichung Bhutia, who played for his United Sikkim FC in the second division I-league matches at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, had criticised the ground conditions.
However, Lanong made it clear that in two month's time nothing much can be done, especially with the monsoon.
"It is impossible to improve the ground conditions and set up infrastructures in a span of two months. It is difficult to get funds from the State Plan as it will affect other departments," Lanong said.
The sports minister however promised that in a year's time an artificial turf of about Rs.6 crore would be laid at the JN complex provided funds are available.
If the sports authorities fail to improve the ground situation, Shillong Lajong may have to consider their home matches at Guwahati Nehru Stadium.
"If authorities fail to meet the AFC's criteria, then we have to sign for a new venue but we are hopeful that authorities will take up the works as earmarked by the AFC," Larsing Ming Sawyan, the owner of Shillong Lajong, told IANS.
Shillong Lajong, which was relegated in the last edition, has qualified to play in the upcoming I-League.