Even the Cooperage is in a bad shape, thanks to litigation issues and the Western India Football Association’s (WIFA), which is in charge of the ground, slack attitude.

There was a glimmer of hope when the WIFA said it would install floodlights, even if temporary, this season. But with those plans postponed, that hope has been quashed. Yadav, a former Mahindra player himself, talks of how his team was forced to play their AFC matches in Goa, when the Asian federation termed the conditions at the Cooperage unfit for international matches.

The blame game

All India Football Federation official Col. Gautam Kar said that constructing a stadium is not their prerogative. Mumbai District Football Association secretary Souter Vaz blames bad scheduling which led to further deterioration of the ground. “WIFA organised unnecessary tournaments earlier in the year, especially just before the I-league was about to start,” says Vaz.

Some of the matches might be shifted to the swanky DY Patil Staduim this season, but Air-India coach Bimal Ghosh, though, believes there is no need to shift base. “It is a historic venue and I’m sure the stadium will come up in a year or so. Our fan development programme will be finished if they shift,” he says.

Ghosh says that more attention needs to be given to facilities for spectators.

“The sport will develop only if more people are attracted to the ground. The players’ dressing rooms can be of a sub-standard quality. We spend just around an hour there anyway,” he adds.