Ball set rolling for first international football game in city since 1955

The opening in July of the renovated Andheri Sports Complex football stadium, which has well-maintained natural turf, seems to be changing the scenario of football in Mumbai for good. On Saturday, the ground will host India’s match against Puerto Rico, which will be the first international football match in Mumbai since India was blanked 3-0 by the then Soviet Union in February 1955.

The venue will also host Mumbai City FC in the third edition of the Indian Super League (ISL), which starts on October 1.

“I am pleased with the facilities over here. The ground is good. In fact, we need more stadiums in India which, like this, are not that big and where the stands for spectators are close to the field, much like stadiums in the European leagues with a capacity 20,000-25,000,” said Indian goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, who plays in the Norwegian League for Stabaek Football Club.

The Indian team arrived in the city on Sunday and is staying at Novotel Hotel, Andheri. The team started training twice daily at the ground from Monday onwards.

Western India Football Association CEO and ex-India goalkeeper Henry Menezes said the hard work put in by Mumbai District Football Association and Yuva Sena chief Aditya Thackeray had borne fruit, since the ground comes under the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, ruled by Shiv Sena.

The renovation had started some nine months ago, and a Fifa representative had listed necessities for the stadium after inspecting the ground. The stadium can now accommodate around 12,000 spectators, though a corner of the ground can be used to build a high-capacity stand, which could boost the overall count to well beyond 15,000. The ground has four dressing rooms, a modern spa, a gymnasium and a referee’s room.