Lionel Messi and mates in the colours of Argentina will clash with fellow South Americans Venezuela at the Salt Lake Stadium on September 2 in a FIFA-sanctioned friendly, and the Rs 1000 is the lowest denomination ticket for an event that is sure to cause a stampede in the football-mad city.
That Messi and Argentina - and yes, Venezuela too -- will indeed be playing in the city was confirmed here on Monday by Celebrity Management Group (CMG), the exclusive licensee of the match. Ending doubts over Messi's Kolkata trip, CMG insisted that according to their contract with the Argentina Football Association, Carlos Tevez will also be accompanying the side, which is likely to be led by Messi's Barcelona teammate Javier Mascherano.
Following the Kolkata match, the Argentine contingent will fly over to Dhaka to play a friendly against Nigeria on Sept 6. Incidentally, the Nigeria-Argentina game played on June 1 in Abuja has come under FIFA's scanner for alleged fixing. Nigeria won 4-1.
The ticket prices which range from Rs 1,000 to around Rs 5,000, could come as a culture shock for Kolkata's football fans who have, for years paid not more than Rs 40 to 50 for games between the top clubs Mohun Bagan and East Bengal. Ironically, just across the city at the Eden Gardens, the sports fan has not been averse to paying anything between Rs 400 to Rs 9,000 to watch Kolkata Knight Riders in the T20 IPL.
Outlining their programme, CMG revealed that they were also planning to sell tickets for Argentina's practice session.
"We plan to do this at a much cheaper price so that those who can't afford tickets for the match get another chance for a dream date with the Argentina footballers," Bhaswar Goswami of CMG said.
As things stand now, the Argentina squad is scheduled to arrive in the city on August 30. The match apart, the squad members will be involved in a number of other events, including a clinic with kids and a charity programme, during their four-day sojourn.
A group of CMG officials will be in Argentina from June 26 to July 7 to chalk out with the AFA the logistics and itinerary for the squad.
The hurdles over bringing Messi and the rest having been cleared, the organizers are bracing up for another challenge: Doing up the venue worthy of an international match. State sports minister Madan Mitra stressed that work is being done on war footing to make the Salt Lake Stadium worthy of the world's best footballer.
"Our cause for concern is: Who is coming and where is he coming? It's regrettable to say that Messi will be playing in a stadium which is in a mess. That's how the Salt Lake Stadium is now. Hopefully we will be able to set the house in order, provide basic amenities to the spectators as well as clean up toilets, dressing rooms and other essential areas of the stadium. It's after all a matter of prestige for all of us," Mitra maintained.
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