Sports Ministry sets May 15 deadline for FIFA U-17 WC preparations

As India prepare to host the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in October, Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Vijay Goel has ordered that all facilities for the football gala event should be ready by May 15.

The tournament will be played in six cities--Delhi, Navi Mumbai, Kolkata, Goa, Kochi and Guwahati--from October 6 to October 28.

There were reports that at some venues the preparations were not up to the mark.

Goel, who recently undertook a visit to Kochi, was disappointed with the pace at which the preparations were going on.

Therefore, he had a meeting with all the concerned officers, after which he directed that no more extension of time for completion of works may be sought and that all facilities should be ready by May 15.

Goel also held a meeting with the Chief Minister, Kerala and Minister of Sports, Government of Kerala and urged upon them to review the work at their level, to ensure timely completion of pending work.

The Minister was assured that the timeline fixed by him, i.e. May 15, 2017, will be respected and no work will be left incomplete for completion beyond this date.

Goel will now undertake a similar visit to Kolkata on May 5.

During the visit, the Minister is likely to visit the competition, as well as practice venues of the FIFA Under-17 World Cup. He will also hold meetings with senior football players, Chief Minister of West Bengal, Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of West Bengal, with a view to seek their cooperation in popularizing football and make FIFA Under-17 World Cup, a success.