KOCHI: As excitement builds up over Lionel Messi’s visit to Kerala with the world champions for an international friendly, Argentina Football Association Manager Hector Daniel Cabrera has expressed satisfaction with the arrangements being made at the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium in Kochi.
On Tuesday, Cabrera, accompanied by Sports Minister V Abdurahiman, inspected the facilities at the stadium owned by the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) and maintained by ISL club Kerala Blasters FC. Workers were seen upgrading floodlights, repairing seats, and preparing the venue to host the much-anticipated fixture. Minister Abdurahiman said the stadium will be fully ready within 30 days.
“The field is currently in a satisfactory condition. Work on the floodlights and seat replacement is progressing, and the venue will be match-ready within a month,” Abdurahiman said.
Argentina’s match in Kerala was initially planned to be held at the Greenfield Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram but was shifted to Kochi for better accessibility to fans across the state. The minister added that large-scale programmes, including a massive fan meet, are being planned to accommodate supporters unable to secure tickets.
The official announcement of Argentina’s opponents and the match date will be made by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in the coming days. According to reports, Australia is likely to be the rival team, with the match expected to be played on either November 16 or 17.
“The stadium will be prepared to host the maximum number of spectators and arrangements will meet FIFA standards,” said Anto Augustine, managing director of Reporter TV, the official event sponsor.
Earlier in the day, Cabrera received a warm welcome at the Kochi airport.