Minerva get nod to use Kalinga Stadium for one AFC Cup home match

New Delhi (PTI): Minerva Punjab FC Thursday heaved a sigh of relief after the Odisha government granted them permission to use Bhubaneswar's Kalinga Stadium for their AFC Cup home match on May 1, and said they are "not shutting shop" for now.

Minerva had earlier alleged that on the All India Football Federation's insistence, the Odisha government had withdrawn permission to use the stadium against Manang Marshyangdi Club of Nepal for the Group E match.

Club owner Ranjit Bajaj had requested Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to look into the matter. On Thursday, Bajaj said the Odisha government has informed him that his club can use the Kalinga Stadium for the May 1 match only. He will have to look for venues for the other two home matches on June 19 and 26.

"I have been informed through phone that I can use the Kalinga Stadium for the May 1 match.