KOCHI: Kerala has always been one of the hotbeds of Indian football alongside states like West Bengal and Goa. The state has birthed generations of footballers who have excelled at the national level — from Thiruvalla Pappan to I M Vijayan.
However, Kerala clubs have not been able to match the success that teams from Goa and Kolkata have managed to achieve. Ever since an organised football league was established in the country, no team from the state has managed to win a national league title. Now, Gokulam Kerala FC is determined to alter that record as they gear up for the new I-League season that opens on Saturday.
The Kozhikode-based club was founded in 2017, and managed to quickly establish themselves as one of the leading clubs in the country. From winning the Durand Cup last season to lifting the Kerala Premier League trophy in 2018, the team has developed an appetite for victory.
And their next target, the I-League title. Despite winning the Durand Cup, Gokulam had a disappointing last season when they finished fifth. This year’s I-League matches will be held in Kolkata inside a biosecure bubble, owing to the pandemic. Before the whistle blows, TNIE brings you a curtain raiser of the much-awaited league.
Team mix
The squad’s highlight this season is a healthy representation of local talent. Out of the 24 players, eleven hail from Kerala. Senior players like C K Ubaid will spearhead the game plan, and new players like Emil Benny, Mohammed Jasim, Thahir Zaman and Alex Saji have been promoted to the senior team from the
reserve side.
Goalkeepers
C K Ubaid ( Kannur)
P A Ajmal (Malappuram)
Defenders
Alex Saji (Wayanad)
Mohammed Jasim (Malappuram)
Jestin George (Kottayam):
Midfielders
Muhammed Rashid (Wayanad) Been with Gokulam since its inception
Shibil Muhammed (Malappuram)
Salman Kalliyath (Malappuram): With Gokulam since the club’s inception
Thahir Zaman (Kozhikode):
MS Jithin (Thrissur):
Forward
Emil Benny (Wayanad)
January, 2021
Sat, 9 Jan, vs Chennai City - 7:00PM (H)
Thu, 14 Jan, vs Minerva Punjab - 2:00PM (H)
Wed, 20 Jan, vs Aizawl FC - 2:00PM (A)
Mon, 25 Jan, vs NEROCA FC - 7:00PM (A)
Sat, 30 Jan vs Real Kashmir - 7:00PM (H)
February, 2021
Sat, 13 Feb, vs TRAU FC - 7:00PM (A)
Fri, 19 Feb, vs Indian Arrows - 2:00PM (H)
Tue, 23 Feb, vs Sudeva 4:00PM (A)
MAJOR HONOURS
(Both men and women)
Durand Cup - 2019 (Winners)
Kerala Premier League - 2018 (Winners)
Indian Women’s League - 2020 (Winners)
Boudousa Trophy - 2019 (Winners)
Independence Day Cup - 2019 (Winners)
Full SQUAD
Goalkeepers : CK Ubaid, Vigneshwaran Bhaskaran, PA Ajmal
Defenders: Alex Saji, Deepak Devrani, Mohammed Jasim, Jestin George, Naocha Singh, Zodingliana, Sebastian, Awal Mohammed
Midfielders: Muhammed Rashid, Shibil Muhammed, Muthu Irulandi Mayakkannan, Salman Kalliyath, Vincy Barretto, Thahir Zaman, MS Jithin
Forwards: Emil Benny, Dennis Antwi Agyare, Ronald Singh, Lalromawia, Philip Adjah
Foreign flavour
This season, Gokulam have brought in four new overseas players — Sharif Mukhammad (Afghanistan) and Ghanian internationals Mohammed Awal, Dennis Antwi Agyare and Philip Adjah. Sharif is a 30-year-old midfielder who has played for Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala alongside Roberto Carlos, Willian, and Samuel Eto’o. Awal is a 32-year-old defender who has played for Ghana’s national team in the Africa Cup of Nations. Agyare, 27, is a striker who played for Malaysia, Sweden and Norway clubs.
Eyes on the title
Italian tactician Vincenzo Alberto Annese replaced Fernando Varela as coach of the Gokulam team this season. The 36-year-old led the team to the quarterfinal at IFA shield. However, the I-League will be his first challenge. Before joining Gokulam, Annese coached the Belize national team and also has experience coaching clubs in Italy, Indonesia, Ghana, Palestine and Latvia.”I’m new in the system. Everybody is watching us because we have a strong team. When you win a title that was never won before, it counts as amazing. All of India and Asia will speak about us,” he said.