Guwahati, India was confirmed "as a venue for the proposed cash-rich IMG-Reliance football league commencing early next year," according to Imtiaz Ahmed of the Indian TELEGRAPH. IMG-Reliance and the Sports Authority of Assam "signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU), putting the seal of confirmation for the city as one of the eight venues as well as a franchise city of one of the eight teams." The league, which will feature leading overseas players, "is tentatively scheduled from January to March every year." Confirming the development, SAA Vice-Chair Rana Goswami said that the MoU "was signed for a period of five years" (TELEGRAPH, 10/17). GOAL's Nikhil Jitendran reported the Indira Gandhi Athletics stadium "was chosen as the venue" and will undergo internal and structural modifications to adhere to int'l standards for the games. Among the renovations, major changes "are expected to the turf, the dressing and washrooms." Refitting of the stadiums' floodlights "is also expected, with the number of flux-intensity brightners doubling from the already installed one thousand." IMG-Reliance officials "also inspected the venue around two months ago and suggested possible reworks," after which Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi directed the all necessary steps to be taken by the respective departments in charge (GOAL, 10/18).
