Minerva Punjab allowed to play first AFC Cup home game at Kalinga Stadium

However, the Warriors will need to find an alternate venue to host their remaining home games.

Well, it looks like Minerva Punjab's current AFC Cup home ground controversy has finally come to an end (atleast temporarily).

In a recent tweet, club owner Ranjit Bajaj stated, "I want to profusely thank the @Naveen_Odisha @CMO_Odisha especially mr Vijay Kumar IAS Secy Sports & @rvineel_krishna Director for giving @minervapunjabfc permission to play in Kalinga Stadium for our 1st home match/ this ensures enuf time to get another stadium 4 later matches."

I want to profusely thank the @Naveen_Odisha @CMO_Odisha especially mr Vijay Kumar IAS Secy Sports & @rvineel_krishna Director for giving @minervapunjabfc permission to play in Kalinga Stadium for our 1st home match/ this ensures enuf time to get another stadium 4 later matches????????

— Ranjit Bajaj (@THE_RanjitBajaj) April 11, 2019

So now, the Kalinga Stadium will host the club's first home encounter against Nepal's Manang Marshyangdi. But the questions remains about the other home clashes. Hopefully, the Chandigarh-based side will find a suitable place before the other matches. After hosting Manang, Minerva need to host Chennaiyin FC and Dhaka Abahani.

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Earlier, it was revealed that the Odisha Sports Authority had refused to host the former I-League champions' AFC Cup home fixtures at the Kalinga Stadium. According to the authorities, it was due to the need to renovate the stadium for the upcoming 2020 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

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Meanwhile, Khel Now sources had informed us that the renovation plan was already known but was decided to be done after the AFC Cup. Our source quipped that due to Minerva's boycotting of the ongoing Super Cup, AIFF and FSDL were putting pressure on the Odisha Sports Authority.

Minerva Punjab are currently second in Group E, behind their Nepal rivals, and ahead of their Indian and Bangladesh counterparts. The outfit have already played a game; an away fixture against Chennaiyin FC at the TransStadia.