Odisha FC to play first three home games in ISL at Balewadi Stadium

The newcomers will host ATK, Bengaluru FC and Hyderabad FC at their makeshift home.

In some exciting news for football fans in Pune, the Indian Super League is set to return to the city! The league's newcomers Odisha FC will play their first three home games of this season at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex.

It is understood that the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar is currently under reconstruction. The situation comes in light of the upcoming FIFA U-17  Women's World Cup in India in 2020. The stadium is owned by the Odisha Sports and Youth Services Department, authorities of whom have confirmed a delay in the upgradation process.

Further, it is believed that a 'severe monsoon' and 'unseasonal rains' in the city of Bhubaneswar is the cause of the delay in work. "We tried hard to ensure that we play the home games in Bhubaneswar. However, owing to persistent showers here the upgradation work got delayed," said Odisha FC owner Rohan Sharma.

[KH_ADWORDS type="3" align="center"][/KH_ADWORDS]

"Unfortunately, things are beyond our control. So, we have to consider an alternative venue for the first three home games. We look forward to having Kalinga Stadium full when we have our eventual first home game," quoted Sharma to Odisha TV.

Post the international break, Odisha FC are scheduled to play ATK (24th November) - their first home game and subsequently against Bengaluru FC (4th December). Interestingly, on 11th December, they will also host Balewadi's former tenants Hyderabad FC, in what should be a game of mixed emotions for the visitors.

[KH_RELATED_NEWS title="Related News | Article Continues Below"][/KH_RELATED_NEWS]

Moving on, the reconstruction work at Kalinga is expected to be completed by mid-December. This means Odisha can host their other home games at their new permanent base in Bhubaneswar.

"We are working hard along with the vendors on getting Kalinga Stadium football pitch ready for FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup India 2020 as per the guidelines of FIFA," said R Vineel Krishna, Director cum Additional Secretary of Sports and Youth Services Department, Odisha.

"We are expecting that the ground will be available for the home games of Odisha FC in mid-December 2019," he went on to confirm.