Football in Kochi, Kerala, renowned for its top-tier talent pool and passionate fans, is set to enter an exciting new phase with the announcement of the long-awaited Super League Kerala (SLK) franchise.
The first season of the league, scheduled to begin in early September, will feature six franchises, including Kochi Pipers FC, Calicut FC, Thrissur Roar FC, Kannu Squad FC, Thiruvananthapuram Kombans FC and Malappuram FC, a press statement here on Sunday said. Are.
Franchise owners and co-owners include: legendary tennis star Mahesh Bhupathi CEO, SGSE of APL Apollo (Kochi Pipers FC), Kaj Patafta, President and CEO of Brisbane Roar FC, Benoit Joseph of Magnus Sports and Nusi Technologies (Thrissur Roar). Mohammad Rafiq FC).
MP Hasan Kunhi, director of Kannur International Airport Limited, Mibu Jose Nettikadan, managing director of Castle Group, Doha, Praveesh Kuzhuppilly, director of Asset Homes and Shamim Backer, promoter of Wayanad FC (Kannur Squaw FC).
Travancore Princess Gouri Lakshmi Bai, KIM Hospital CMD Dr Mohammed Ilyas Sahadulla, Kerala Travels MD KC Chandrahasan, and Kovalam FC (Thiruvananthapuram Kombans FC) co-owner TJ Mathews.VA Ajmal Bismi, MD, Bismi Group, Dr. Anwar Amin Chelat, SAT Tirur FC and Gran Hypermarket, and Baby Nilambara, Chairman, Saudi Indian Football Forum (Malappuram FC), and Tech Entrepreneur and Chairman, IBS Group, VK Mathew (Calicut ) It added that FC ) is also among the owners and co-owners of the franchise.
It said the carefully planned SLK is set to create numerous opportunities in sectors such as sports and entertainment, retail trade, tourism, leisure travel and hospitality, which will benefit the six selected sectors and their surrounding areas.
Over 100 talented youngsters from Kerala selected by the SLK team owners will get world-class exposure, paving the way for their growth in Indian and international football.
Kerala Sports Minister V Abdurahman said at the introduction ceremony of the six franchises on Friday that SLK is sure to redefine the state's football activities in a big way in the coming years.
SLK CEO Mathew Joseph said the stadiums and venues have been selected keeping in mind fair spread of access for football fans.“The selected venues will promise a unique and unprecedented experience for the visitors,” he said.
The league will showcase promising talents from Kerala and football-loving regions of Asia, Europe and South America, he said.
Navas Meeran, president of the Kerala Football Association (KFA), said that although Kerala is considered the traditional powerhouse of Indian football, football fans in the state still do not experience the excitement and enthusiasm that I have experienced in Latin America or Europe. Have done.
"Currently, in an ambitious initiative aimed at promoting football across Kerala and attracting more talent, over 5,000 budding players are undergoing training and competitions in five groups for the Chakola Trophy tournament," he said.
It is organized as part of the Kerala Youth Development Project of the Kerala Football Association (KFA), Meeran said, adding that under the project, boys selected from the districts will be given free coaching throughout the year with the help of the SLK franchise.Those present during the ceremony included Hibi Eden MP, MLAs TJ Vinod and PV Srinijan, Kerala Sports Council President U Sharafali and Consul General of Australia (in Chennai) Silai Zaky.
The first season of the league, scheduled to begin in early September, will feature six franchises, including Kochi Pipers FC, Calicut FC, Thrissur Roar FC, Kannu Squad FC, Thiruvananthapuram Kombans FC and Malappuram FC, a press statement here on Sunday said. Are.
Franchise owners and co-owners include: legendary tennis star Mahesh Bhupathi CEO, SGSE of APL Apollo (Kochi Pipers FC), Kaj Patafta, President and CEO of Brisbane Roar FC, Benoit Joseph of Magnus Sports and Nusi Technologies (Thrissur Roar). Mohammad Rafiq FC).
MP Hasan Kunhi, director of Kannur International Airport Limited, Mibu Jose Nettikadan, managing director of Castle Group, Doha, Praveesh Kuzhuppilly, director of Asset Homes and Shamim Backer, promoter of Wayanad FC (Kannur Squaw FC).
Travancore Princess Gouri Lakshmi Bai, KIM Hospital CMD Dr Mohammed Ilyas Sahadulla, Kerala Travels MD KC Chandrahasan, and Kovalam FC (Thiruvananthapuram Kombans FC) co-owner TJ Mathews.VA Ajmal Bismi, MD, Bismi Group, Dr. Anwar Amin Chelat, SAT Tirur FC and Gran Hypermarket, and Baby Nilambara, Chairman, Saudi Indian Football Forum (Malappuram FC), and Tech Entrepreneur and Chairman, IBS Group, VK Mathew (Calicut ) It added that FC ) is also among the owners and co-owners of the franchise.
It said the carefully planned SLK is set to create numerous opportunities in sectors such as sports and entertainment, retail trade, tourism, leisure travel and hospitality, which will benefit the six selected sectors and their surrounding areas.
Over 100 talented youngsters from Kerala selected by the SLK team owners will get world-class exposure, paving the way for their growth in Indian and international football.
Kerala Sports Minister V Abdurahman said at the introduction ceremony of the six franchises on Friday that SLK is sure to redefine the state's football activities in a big way in the coming years.
SLK CEO Mathew Joseph said the stadiums and venues have been selected keeping in mind fair spread of access for football fans.“The selected venues will promise a unique and unprecedented experience for the visitors,” he said.
The league will showcase promising talents from Kerala and football-loving regions of Asia, Europe and South America, he said.
Navas Meeran, president of the Kerala Football Association (KFA), said that although Kerala is considered the traditional powerhouse of Indian football, football fans in the state still do not experience the excitement and enthusiasm that I have experienced in Latin America or Europe. Have done.
"Currently, in an ambitious initiative aimed at promoting football across Kerala and attracting more talent, over 5,000 budding players are undergoing training and competitions in five groups for the Chakola Trophy tournament," he said.
It is organized as part of the Kerala Youth Development Project of the Kerala Football Association (KFA), Meeran said, adding that under the project, boys selected from the districts will be given free coaching throughout the year with the help of the SLK franchise.Those present during the ceremony included Hibi Eden MP, MLAs TJ Vinod and PV Srinijan, Kerala Sports Council President U Sharafali and Consul General of Australia (in Chennai) Silai Zaky.
