Players plough playground at Biratnagar stadium

BIRATNAGAR, Dec 15: Sportsmen ploughed the Martyr Stadium of Biratnagar on Tuseday after they got fed up with political conferences and religious functions carried out in the only sports ground of the city. The sportsmen resorted to the extreme measure, as they were unable to carry out their regular training due to the functions.[break]

The players and coaches of Biratnagar ploughed the stadium and planted 4kg of maize on Tuseday afternoon. “We ploughed the stadium to challenge the government,” Dwarika Regmi, coordinator of the Maoist affiliated Republican Sports Federation Nepal (RSFN) of Morang, told Republica.

The players of Morang became infuriated as political conventions, religious functions, fairs, festivals and circus were organized at the sports venue almost everyday. There is a provision to spend a certain amount of funds raised from the programs, except that of the political meetings and religious functions, for the reconstruction of the stadium. Sports authorities did not utilize Rs400,000 that was allocated for the reconstruction of the stadium after the Eastern Regional Festival four months ago.

“Non-sports activities have made the field uneven everywhere,” said Regmi. “We requested the district and regional level Sports Development Committee to stop such activities but instead those activities increased in the recent days,” he added. According to Regmi, even the Chief District Officer did not heed their request.

The stadium has become the first choice for any public functions because of its secure locality at the midst of the city.

A four-day long religious function was organized by the Brahma Kumari Rajyog Centre this month while various political parties conducted mass meetings earlier.

“The stadium is so frequently used by others that the players have not been able to carry out their training,” lamented cricket coach Roshan Budhathoki.

“The sports ground is occupied whenever we come for training,” Karate Coach Ram Limbu told Republica. He accused the District Sports Development Committee of transforming the stadium into a commercial complex that deprived the players from regular training.

Different claims

A dispute between two groups of sportsmen ensued after the stadium was ploughed. The National and International Players´ Association (NIPA) raised objection after the RSF posted notes claiming that the stadium was ploughed under their initiative.

“We feel betrayed as the Maoists sportsmen used us as a means to achieve their goal,” said NIPA President Ram Limbu. Both the groups claimed responsibility of ploughing the stadium.