Though Lone Star Kashmir FC managed to qualify for the final round of second division I-League, there is still uncertainty over its participation as its home venue in Srinagar is yet to get confirmation to host the matches.
Lone Star Kashmir FC was forced to play its home matches inqualifying round at Katra, Jammu instead of Srinagar and that multiplied theproblems of the club that has been in financial trouble lately. The cost ofplaying even home matches away from home multiplied the costs for cash starvedclub and it is now contemplating to step out of the final round.
The fixture for the final round is already out. Lone Starwould be playing its first match on April 27 against Ozone FC and All IndiaFootball Federation has again kept Katra as home venue of the club.
As the club is facing financial trouble, it is yet to starttraining for the final round and even is trying its best to motivate AIFF tomove home matches to Srinagar.
Team mentor and former international footballer Ishfaq Ahmadconfirmed that Lone Star Kashmir FC is facing huge financial crunch and is inno way ready to play its home matches away again.
“The fixture is out and we are yet to start preparation forthe final hurdle of making it to main I-league competition. The reason is wellknown to everyone as AIFF has kept our home venue again in Katra which is notacceptable to us this time,” Ishfaq said.
“In qualifying round we played our both home and awayfixtures outside Kashmir and that meant all our matches turned out as awayfixtures. That multiplied the expenditure and costs. It affected the budget ofthe club that was already facing financial issues. Now it is not possible forclub to again play our home matches in Katra. It is either Srinagar or we willstay out of competition,” he said.
Ishfaq said that club has written to AIFF to shift match toSrinagar as everything is normal in Srinagar and have recommended takingsuggestion of J&K Football Association in this regard.
“It looks like joke that AIFF considers Srinagar not fitsecurity wise to host second division matches while as it did hold mainI-League matches of Real Kashmir here in Srinagar. Even JKFA recently held itsState Championship matches in Srinagar. We have requested AIFF to shift ourmatches to Srinagar and also take suggestion from JKFA in this regard,” hesaid.
The former Mohun Bagan skipper said that if they getpositive response from AIFF the club will start training from April 17.
“We are waiting for the AIFF response and would like to playour home matches in Srinagar in front of our home fans. We are yet to startpreparation and if we get positive response then we will start training fromApril 17th at TRC ground Srinagar. Even I will myself join training sessions sothat team prepares well,” he added.