SAFF Cup: Does India want change of venue and dates?

Original plans were to play the next edition of the SAFF Cup (South Asian Football Federation Championships) in December 2011 in Cuttack, Orissa. But this decision, whoever made it, has come under much criticism over recent weeks as Cuttack simply does not have the necessary infrastructure to host eight football national teams in the city.

There was speculation that New Delhi could play hosts to the regional tournament, maybe a combination of Ambedkar Stadium and Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, hosting the matches. But now rumours say that the All India Football Federation is trying not only to push for a change of venue, but also for a preponement of the tournament to better fit into the 2011/12 Indian football calendar.

Reports have appeared in the Times of India and in newspapers in Bangladesh which say that with knowledge of the SAFF Secretary Alberto Colaco, who happens to be the former AIFF General Secretary, the AIFF was looking at hosting the SAFF Cup in Delhi but if possible in October.

This piece of information seems to have created confusion amongst SAFF members as all nations were preparing their national sides for a December tournament. Even the SAFF president Kazi Salahuddin seems unaware of the latest developments and did not want to comment until the AIFF send in a formal request.

One will have to wait and watch what happens, but why such a move is happening so late has to be questioned.