Super Cup 2023: East Bengal management BLASTS Super Cup organisers

Super Cup 2023: East Bengal management BLASTS Super Cup organisers on ‘Utter mismanagement on the AIFF’s part’, claims ‘The team was standing outside ‘ – Check Out

Triyasha Chatterjee

Wednesday, Apr 12, 2023 4:11 pm

Super Cup 2023: Indian Super Cup Training Facilities: The Super Cup competition’s competing clubs have vowed to take revenge on Kozhikode and Manjeri for their inadequate training facilities and lack of adequate housing. The management of East Bengal, along with head coach Stephen Constantine, did not hold back in their condemnation of organisers. The home […]

Super Cup 2023: Indian Super Cup Training Facilities: The Super Cup competition’s competing clubs have vowed to take revenge on Kozhikode and Manjeri for their inadequate training facilities and lack of adequate housing. The management of East Bengal, along with head coach Stephen Constantine, did not hold back in their condemnation of organisers. The home team Kerala Blasters moved their base from Kozhikode to a location with greater amenities. Follow Indian Super League and Indian Super Cup 2023 LIVE Updates on InsideSport.IN

Super Cup 2023: East Bengal management BLASTS Super Cup organisers on ‘Utter mismanagement on the AIFF’s part’, claims ‘The team was standing outside ‘ – Check Out

Super Cup 2023: Participating teams LASH out at poor training facilities, AIFF &

East Bengal was not provided with adequate training facilities, which forced the players to adopt workarounds and adjust to the unusual circumstances. East Bengal has expressed its displeasure about the scarcity of ambulances and clean drinking water. Teams competing in Manjeri train at sites like Malappuram’s Kottappadi Stadium. Yet, according to Stephen Constatine, the head coach of East Bengal, the Stadium’s accessibility is a problem.

Stephen Constantine was fuming after match regarding the poor facilities made by AIFF 😶#HeroSuperCup #SuperCup2023 #IndianFootball #HeroISL #allindiafootball #AIF pic.twitter.com/HRiX3StSUQ

— All India Football (@AllIndiaFtbl) April 10, 2023

“The team had to walk through a fish market to enter the Kottappadi ground. There are no proper floodlights at the venue. Makeshift lights. It hampered the training sessions. The goalkeepers suffered the most as there was little or no light at either end of the ground.” a management source was quoted saying,

“In the morning, Stephen had to travel 2.5 hours to reach Kozhikode for a 5-minute long presser. The AIFF didn’t even offer any refreshments to the four coaches,” they added.

Super Cup 2023: Logistical NIGHTMARE for Kerala Blasters, ISL club to travel 185kms…

The East Bengal camp, however, was not just plagued by the travel and timetable. The team was displeased with the organisers as a result of their poor administration on game day.

“Utter mismanagement on the AIFF’s part. The training ground’s gates were closed when the team reached the venue. The local coordinator himself was confused. It took him nearly 20 minutes to figure out the entry point. The team was standing outside all this while,” the source added.

Super Cup 2023: East Bengal management BLASTS Super Cup organisers on ‘Utter mismanagement on the AIFF’s part’, claims ‘The team was standing outside ‘ – Check Out

Earlier Head coach Stephen Constantine was also heard voicing his discontent over the amenities provide to his team. There are signs that at least three clubs have already voiced their concerns to AIFF about the inadequate training facilities. Of which, two have formally complained in writing.

“The Super Cup should have been played throughout the season. Not bring eight teams to one training ground. We are driving more than two hours to a city where we won’t have the game! Why didn’t they have this press conference in Manjeri? I have to travel back for two hours, and then to training, another hour. It’s a complete waste of time,” Constantine said at the pre-match press conference, which was held in Kozhikode.

“Who will take responsibility if one of my players suffers an injury after practising? The only positive thing from this tournament is that there’s an AFC slot, otherwise nothing,” he concluded.

The local organisers acknowledged that the facilities provided for teams to practise were subpar. According to information obtained, the tournament’s organisers were hoping for some financial assistance from the state government through the Kerala State Sports Council (KSSC) in order to carry out the competition. Nevertheless, because it fell through, they are now in financial difficulty.