ISL 2019-20: Odisha FC to play first three home games in Pune owing to construction work at Bhubaneswar's Kalinga Stadium

Bhubaneshwar: Debutants Odisha FC will be playing their first three home games of the Indian Super League in Pune owing to construction work at the city’s Kalinga Stadium. The franchise will play the matches against ATK, Bengaluru FC and Hyderabad FC on 24 November, 4 and 11 December respectively at Pune’s Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex. [caption id=“attachment_7627641” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Odisha FC players during a training session. Sportzpics[/caption] Kalinga Stadium, which is owned by the Odisha Sports and Youth Services Department, is not ready as its upgradation work got delayed due to persistent showers in the state capital. As the venue is going to host the 2020 FIFA U-17 women’s World Cup, the state government is trying to ensure that the turf is in proper condition as per the FIFA guidelines. The stadium is expected to be ready before 16 December. All other six games will go ahead as per schedule and informing about the same, Odisha FC owner Rohan Sharma said, “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.”