Bangalore to host WC group qualifiers

Bangalore to host WC group qualifiers
Express News Service

Bangalore, March 30: Bangalore will host the three home matches against United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Brunei in the Group 8 World Cup preliminary matches at Sree Kanteerava Stadium here.

Addressing a press conference here on Friday, AR Khaleel, President of Karnataka State Football Association said that the Indian football camp, presently undergoing training under chief coach Sukhvinder Singh at the Sports Authority of India campus, would be shifted to Bangalore Football Stadium from today.

India will kick-off the campaign on April 8 when they meet United Arab Emirates. The next two home matches will be on April 15 and May 20 against Yemen and Brunei respectively in the four-team Group 8. India will travel to UAE for the away match on April 26 before playing Yemen in Yemen on May 4 and Brunei at Darrusalam on May 12. The toppers of the group will qualify for the second round. The World Cup finals will be jointly hosted by Japan and Korea in 2002.

Khaleel, who is also the working chairman of the organising committee said that the playing field at Sree Kanteerava Stadium was being redone and the dressing rooms have been refurnished. About 50 children from each school will be given free admission.

The prices of the tickets were kept low to encourage more spectators at Rs.50, Rs.30 and Rs.10 for galleries.