"Unlike last year, this year there was no problem getting the tickets. My family is rooting for FC Goa. We are happy that the FC Goa management has taken the right steps to distribute the tickets with out any problems,"FC Goa fan from Margao
THE GOAN NETWORK
MARGAO
With ISL kick-off just a week away, Goa seems to be already gripped by the football fever. Such was the enthusiasm of the sport that football-crazy fans rushed to the counters to grab their share of tickets for the home game of FC Goa on October 4 at Nehru stadium Fatorda.
All roads will lead to Nehru stadium,when the 2nd Hero ISL will thrown open the gates of this South Goa venue on October 4. However, a week in advance, which is Friday September 25, the ticket counters were thrown open at just one such venue in Margao which witness unprecedented rush and this was the order of the day.
One such football fan, a Fatorda resident Jade Colaco expressed happiness to grab four tickets. "Unlike last year, this year there was no problem getting the tickets. My family is rooting for FC Goa."
"We are happy that the FC Goa management have initiated the right steps to distribute the tickets with out any problems. As a precautionary measure, I brought Adhar Card for identification," a lady from Fatorda said.
Another fan Vincent Colaco was delighted to get four tickets. "I had no hassles in purchasing the tickets and my heart beats for FC Goa," said Vincent.
Witnessing matches of the second edition of ISL at Nehru stadium is likely to burn a hole in the football lovers' pockets, with tickets priced at substantially higher rates, as against the last year's price of tickets in similar situation.
Counter sales for tickets for the high voltage match scheduled on October 4 at 7 pm between FC Goa - the semi-finalists of last year's edition - and Delhi Dynamos, were thrown open on Friday at 2pm. Prices of tickets ranging from Rs 250 (East and South Stand ), Rs 480 (East Stand), Rs 1030 inclusive tax (both upper and lower West Stand), to Rs 3000 (hospitality) were available on line at htp.//in .bookmyshow.com/.
In contrast, tickets for this tournament held last year were priced at Rs 100, 200, 300 and Rs 2500. Subsequently, the rates registered a sharp increase by Rs 200, 400, 480 and Rs 3000 as FC Goa reached the final.
Be that as it may, memories of trouble which erupted when FC Goa reached the semi-finals are still fresh in soccer buff's minds. Many football lovers had to face the ignominy of spending an entire night outside the stadium, in anticipation of the ticket counters opening the next day. Despite this, many were disappointed as they had to return empty handed as the tickets were sold out in no time.
