A state-of-the-art football stadium may still seem like an elusive dream for players and fans alike in Mumbai,as the Cooperage continues to stand as the aging vanguard of the sport in the city. But in what can be considered a positive development,at least one of the three teams from the city involved in the I-league this season have decided to spruce up their practice ground. Vice-President of the Air India Sports Promotion Board V A Ferreira in fact is quietly confident that the ground in Kalina will soon be in a good enough condition to even host his teams I-league matches. "We have given ourselves one-and-a-half months to first get rid of all the patches on the field,which we have already done successfully on one side, he says,while pointing towards the right flank of the field. He adds that the Air-India players will very soon also get to train under lights at their home ground. Plans of installing permanent flood-lights are very much in the pipeline,and we will soon get the funds in place for that purpose, reveals Ferreira. He insists that the Millennium Cup,a tournament which started off as an Air-India initiative back in 2000,will also be restored and hopefully be played at the new-look venue. We also want to make it an annual event,and are hoping to invite a lot of teams here,and even put up temporary stands if the need arises, says Ferreira. He also believes that bringing in the crowds was not a problem in Kalina,as football has a large following in the surrounding areas. Lots of people generally come in from Santacruz and Vile Parle. Even the residents,who stay within the Air-India colony are very supportive and always make it a point to come and get a piece of the action, explains Ferreira.
