BHOJPUR: Bhojpur District FA has begun the construction works of the football stadium with an aim of preparing the grounds to at least conduct matches.

The construction works, which was stalled for around six years in the absence of budget, got underway after District Sports Development Committee allotted Rs 427,000. The FA had acquired the 28 ropanis land at Kodar in Bhojpur Municipality-7 in 2009. Earlier, the FA had spent Rs 700,000 for the stadium.

“The amount released by the DSDC might not be sufficient to prepare the grounds but we are determined to complete the construction works this season,” said Bhojpur FA President Prabin Suwal. “If we fail to meet the expenses from the allotted amount, we will manage funds on our own,” Suwal added. He said a 100m X 65m grounds would be prepared by the end of this year.

“We do not have a proper ground in Bhojpur and we were forced to conduct nine-a-side matches. After the completion of this ground, we will be able to organise proper tournaments which will ultimately help in the development of the sport in the district,” he added. “We have a lot of talented players in Bhojpur but were unable to produce players in the absence of infrastructure. We hope the problem will be solved after the completion of the grounds,” Suwal said.

Suwal said the FA would construct a stadium with proper facilities if they were provided with the adequate budget. “The grounds will be ready by this year and we can construct a stadium with all the facilities if we get adequate budget,” said Suwal, who demanded enough funds from the government.

General Secretary Safal Kirat said the ground would help them organise national-level tournament in the district. “We were unable to invite teams in the tournaments as we did not have standard playing grounds. Now we will focus in organising big tournaments,” Kirat said.

Despite the lack of infrastructure, Bhojpur FA has been conducting district-level tournaments and International Gold Cup at the local Tundikhel grounds.