Real Kashmir contemplate pre-season in Mumbai, Jamshedpur amidst chaos
Unable to make any communication with their home city, Real Kashmir owner Sandeep Chattoo has revealed that the club would wait for some before moving their pre-season to other cities. Chattoo has also revealed that Jamshedpur’s Tata Football Academy has given them an invitation if necessary.
Real Kashmir have done a commendable job participating in the Durand Cup at a time when Kashmir is going through a turmoil with the Indian government removing Article 370 from the state. However, despite the state being in an emergency, the club took on Chennai City FC on Wednesday and won the match 1-0, and the owner dedicated it to Srinagar.
“Very happy and excited about the win. We were always confident about the squad and our coach. We were pleased to see the dedication of each and every player. They played with their heart and soul. That’s why we have won today,” Chattoo said, reported Goal.
However, with the condition in Kashmir not seemingly mending any time soon, the concern for the club would be the period after the Durand Cup, where they would want to find a place for pre-season training.
"We will just wait till the Durand Cup is over. By that time we will decide whether it will be feasible for us to go back and do the pre-season there before the I-League," said Chattoo.
“We have absolutely no news about Srinagar as of today. We don’t know what’s happening there because we have no means to communicate with anybody there,” he added.
However, Chattoo has revealed that the club might hold its pre-season training in either Jamshedpur or Mumbai as an alternative. “We are team from Srinagar, so obviously we will dedicate this win to Srinagar. We will love to go back to Srinagar. But if for any unfortunate reasons, we don’t go back then we have options. We can take the team anywhere and do the pre-season.
“We can go to Mumbai, we can go to Jamshedpur. There was an informal kind of discussion with them (Tata Football Academy) and the Tatas have been gracious enough to extend an invitation if required. Nothing official as of now,” Chattoo said.