Absolute chaos reigned as the arrangements for the SAFF Championship that starts here today have fallen flat on all fronts.
Coaches of the participating teams came down heavily on the way things have been organised at the pre-tournament press meeting which was held here yesterday.
Indian coach Stephen Constantine said there is nothing that is properly organised here ahead of the premier football tournament in the South Asian region.
“Tell me one thing that is in place for this year’s SAFF tournament. We are all disappointed with the way things have been organised here,” said an angry Constantine.
Patrick Aussems, coach of the Nepal team, said it took more than five hours of waiting in the hotel lobby to move into their rooms.
“We were sent to the wrong hotel first and then had to wait five hours in the lobby before we could get into our rooms,” fumed Aussems. The tournament begins today and ends on January 3. Host nation India, besides six other teams including defending champions Afghanistan, will compete for the trophy.
The other teams include Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Maldives and Sri Lanka. Pakistan, who were originally scheduled to compete here, have not turned up.