Kolkata did not provide us with a proper place to practice: outraged Zico
Zico, manager of FC Goa, has criticized Atletico de Kolkata for providing them with poor training facilities after the league leaders were asked to practice at the Mohun Bagan ground. The change in facilities is learnt to have been a result of the ISL's organizing committee's request to not practice at the Salt Lake Stadium, ahead tonight's game, in order to protect the newly-laid turf.
“According to the ISL rules, the hosts should provide us with a proper place to practice, which was not done here. But if you are in Goa it is not like that. We respect our opponents and even if we do not train at Fatorda stadium, we let our rivals do the training there. I thought about not coming here (news conference), but decided to turn up, out of respect for you,” an enraged Zico said at the pre-match press conference.
The turf at the Salt Lake stadium has come under a lot of criticism in recent past. AIFF has even shifted the Mohun Bagan and East Bengal derby matches away from the iconic stadium, for the upcoming I-League season, so that the turf can be conserved for the U-17 FIFA World Cup to be held here in 2017.
Defending champions Atletico released a statement on Saturday, informing the change in venue for practice sessions for both the teams.
“Atlético de Kolkata respects the league's decision for requesting both teams Atlético de Kolkata and FC Goa for not practising at the Salt Lake Stadium today. FC Goa wanted to practice at the same time as Atlético de Kolkata at the Bidhan Nagar Municipal Ground and since their request came yesterday night, Atlético de Kolkata immediately made arrangements for the away team to practice at the Mohan Bagan Ground. And this was accepted by FC Goa,” read the official statement released by Kolkata's media manager.
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