AFC Cup 2019: Minerva Punjab granted permission to play home match at Kalinga Stadium

Former I-League champions Minerva Punjab have been granted the necessary permissions from the Odisha FA to host their first AFC Cup home match at the Kalinga Stadium against Manang Marshyangdi on May 1, according to various reports. Earlier, the club had alleged that the Odisha government had withdrawn permission, on the insistence of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), to host the match at the Kalinga Stadium. Circumstances were such that Minerva owner Ranjit Bajaj had to request Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to look into the matter. On Thursday, Bajaj told PTI that permission to host the first match has been granted. "I have been informed through phone that I can use the Kalinga Stadium for the May 1 match. I am very happy and I want to profusely thank Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik ji and Sports Sports Secretary and Director Sports for giving permission," he said. However, the club will not be able to use the stadium for their next two home matches on June 19 and 26. "We have two more matches on June 19 and 26. For these matches, we will not be able to use Kalinga Stadium so I have to find another stadium for the two matches. I have more than two months and I hope to get the venues in this time," Bajaj said. Bajaj did add that they were looking at alternative venues to host the matches against Cheanniyin FC and Abahani Limited Dhaka of Bangladesh. "The stadiums will have to be AFC approved. So, I will approach Guwahati, Goa and others also. The fee for using the stadium will be a factor," he said.