Courtesy: The Bangkok Post


Confidence rising that futsal stadium will be ready in time

Bangkok governor optimistic despite World Cup venue construction delays

13/10/2012

Bangkok governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra is confident that the Bangkok Futsal Arena will be complete in time for Fifa's final inspection on Oct 21.

MR Sukhumbhand and his team yesterday inspected the stadium in Bangkok's Nong Chok district which will be one of the venues for the Nov 1-18 Futsal World Cup.

"The construction of the Bangkok Futsal Arena has gone according to schedule," he said. "The roof is nearly complete and facilities such as seats and scoreboard are ready to be installed.

"It is about 90 per cent complete. I can confirm that it will be ready to be handed over to Fifa on Oct 21. However, it is up to Fifa if it will allow the use of the arena for the tournament."

The Nong Chok arena was slated to be the venue for the opening ceremony on Nov 1 and host matches in the first and second rounds of the 24-team tournament.

However, the organisers have rearranged the schedule. The Bangkok Futsal Arena will host matches from the quarter-finals and Hua Mark Indoor Stadium will be the venue for the opening ceremony.

The other venues are Bangkok's Nimibutr Gymnasium and Nakhon Ratchasima's Chatchai Hall.

The Senate committee on sports is looking into the delayed construction of the stadium which began earlier this year although Thailand was awarded the right to host the 2012 Futsal World Cup a few years ago. Committee chairwoman Naruemol Siriwat has called for the government's intervention to avoid further damage to the country's reputation.

"I am afraid that the country's reputation could be further hurt so the government should look after it," she said earlier this week.

Critics say it would be a waste of public funds if the stadium is used for only a couple of matches.

However, Thai FA chief Worawi Makudi said this week the arena would be a memorial site to remind Thais that the country has hosted an important sporting tournament.






Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com