Messi will surely visit Kerala, says minister

Kerala Sports Minister V Abdurahiman on Saturday asserted that Argentina national football team, led by legendary player Lionel Messi, would surely visit the state as announced by the government earlier and the sponsor has paid the match fee for the event. He said the foreign team is more likely to come in October-Novemver months this year and they would be treated as the state guests and their security, accomodation and other facilities would be met by the government. The sports minister kept the hopes of soccer buffs in the state alive months after a section of the media reported that the Argentina team cancelled its scheduled visit to Kerala as the sponsors breached the contract norms. Both Abdurahiman and the sponsor, Reporter Broadcasting Company, had strongly rejected the reports then and reiterated that the world champions would play a friendly match in the southern state. The Minister, who put a brief FB post on Friday saying that “Messi will come”, brought the issue to the limelight again. He also thanked the sponsor, the Reporter Broadcasting Company, in the post. While talking to the media on Saturday, Abdurahiman said there was some delay in the payment of the match fee by the sponsor and it is resolved now. “The sponsor has paid the amount now. There is no other obstacles in this regard. As per the FIFA window, October-November is the time allotted for the world teams to take part in such events. So, the same time is likely to be allotted for us also,” he said.