Bengaluru: The Karnataka State Football Association (KSFA) has expressed its desire to host the final round of the Santosh Trophy. Speaking after the conclusion of the South Zone qualifiers at the Football Stadium here on Monday, KSFA president N.A. Haris stated that he had requested the AIFF to allot the event (schedule yet to be announced) to the city. “We are confident,” he added.
Not all teams, though, are likely to be enthused by the decision. Kerala coach Satheevan Balan admitted he was not a fan of playing on artificial pitches. “The bounce here was inconsistent and hard to judge. The quality of the pitch should be better,” he said.
Balan was also concerned about the lack of suitable training grounds. “We were initially offered a small mud ground. Thankfully, the match commissioner allowed us to train here (Football Stadium) in the mornings after we requested him. We need good training grounds nearby,” he added.
There were no complaints, though, about the KSFA’s hospitality.