Millennium Cup Diary

Millennium Cup Diary
Express News Service

Problems galore for Chile
Ever since the Chilean team landed here on Monday evening it has been encountering with innumerable problems. La Rocha, as they are popularly known back home because of their red jerseys, are not having a proper practice because their baggage is somewhere between Santiago and Kolkata! So much so that the organisers had to re-revise Chile’s programme in the tournament. Earlier, the Olympic bronze medallist were scheduled to kick-off their campaign against Bahrain on the inaugural day on Wednesday.

However, surprises were in store for both the Chilean team as well for the journalists when a fresh copy of itinerary was released saying that Chile would play Bahrain on Friday. But wait. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) uncorked yet another surprise late on Wednesday night. According to the latest schedule, the Latin Amerians will be seen in action from Saturday when they square up with Japan.

Besides the tournament’s hot favourite team is also not quite satisfied with the accommodation at the Hotel Airport Ashok. ‘‘The rooms are stuffy,’’ complains the team management. Moreover, the spicy Indian food are not quite to the liking of La Rocha. So much so that the Chilean ambassador and his wife have especially flown in from New Delhi to put things in order for their home team!

A Press box at last
Scribes covering football matches at the sprawling Yuba Bharti Krirangan had this horrendous experience of sitting on the stairs and penning down each and every action on the field. This has been continuing ever since the stadium was inaugurated in 1984 to exclusively host football matches. But thanks to the ongoing Sahara Cup, the ‘‘makeshift’’ press box has finally got a facelift.

The swank media centre which can accommodate more than 150 journalists have sprung up in real quick time next to the VIP enclosure. The air-conditioned press box has seats with tabletops, two jumbo-sized TV sets and Internet facilities. It seems that the AIFF has slowly started learning about the importance of a decent media centre.

Revised schedule for Kolkata
Jan 12: Bahrain vs Uzbekistan (3.30 pm); Jan 13: Chile vs Japan (7 pm); Jan 15: Chile vs Bahrain (3 pm); Jan 17: Chile vs Uzbekistan (5 pm); Bahrain vs Japan (7 pm).