AFC Cup 2019 | Chennaiyin FC to play home matches at The Arena in Ahmedabad
Chennaiyin FC will have to play all their group fixture home matches of the AFC Cup at Ahmedabad’s The Arena by TransStadia after SDAT delayed in approving the club’s permission to play in Tamil Nadu. The two-time IPL champions would be kicking off their campaign against Minerva Punjab on April 3.
The Marina Machans had to play the home leg of their two-legged qualifying playoffs against Sri Lanka’s Colombo FC in Ahmedabad as Tamil Nadu was politically conducive for hosting the match. However, after drawing a stalemate away from home, CFC managed to qualify by virtue of Jeje Lalpekhlua’s lone goal at the 68th minute.
However, the 2018 ISL champions wanted to play the main tournament in front of the home fans and had requested the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) if they could host the group stage matches at Chennai. Unfortunately, by the time SDAT received the proposal, the club had to make financial commitments to TransStadia’s The Arena.
Now, the Super Machans would have to travel to Ahmedabad in order to watch the club play in the intra-continental tournament as Chennaiyin fulfil their financial obligations. CFC
Fixture for Chennaiyin FC’s AFC Cup group stage matches [Group E]:
Matchday 1 Wednesday 3rd April 2019 - Chennaiyin FC v Minerva Punjab 7:30 PM KO The Arena Stadium, AhmedabadÂ
Matchday 2 Wednesday 17th April 2019 Chennaiyin FC v Manang Marshyangdi Club 7:30 PM KO The Arena Stadium, AhmedabadÂ
Matchday 3 Tuesday 30th April 2019 Chennaiyin FC v Abahani Limited Dhaka 7:30 PM KO The Arena Stadium, AhmedabadÂ
Matchday 4 Wednesday 15th May 2019 Abahani Limited Dhaka v Chennaiyin FC 7 PM KO Bangabandhu National Stadium, Dhaka, BangladeshÂ
Matchday 5 Wednesday 19th June 2019 Minerva Punjab v Chennaiyin FC 6:30 PM KO Kalinga Stadium, BhubaneswarÂ
Matchday 6 Wednesday 26th June 2019 Manang Marshyangdi Club v Chennaiyin FC TBC KO ANFA Complex, Kathmandu, Nepal.