Latest news with #KBFC
News18
6 days ago
- Sport
- News18
ISL Transfer News: KBFC Rope In Amey Ranawade, Jiteshwor Pens CFC Extension
Kerala Blasters FC announced the signing of Amey Ranawade on a 5-year deal, tying him to the club until May 2030, on Monday. The 27-year-old right-back makes the switch to KBFC from Odisha FC, where he concluded the 2024-25 ISL season on loan from Mumbai City FC. 'I'm proud and excited to join Kerala Blasters FC. I have always admired the passion surrounding this club, and I genuinely believe in the project being built here," the Mumbai-born Ranawade said after putting pen to paper.
The Hindu
16-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
KBFC's participation in 2025-26 ISL unlikely to be affected by rejection of application for Premier 1 Licence by AIFF
The denial of the Premier 1 Licence by the Club Licensing Committee of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to the Kerala Blasters FC (KBFC) is unlikely to affect its participation in the 2025-26 Indian Super League season as it can either apply for an exemption or appeal the decision to deny the annual licence. The application for exemption should be submitted by May 22 and entails a fee of around ₹10 lakh. Kerala Blasters was among the five ISL teams whose applications for Premier I Licence were rejected by the committee that met on Thursday. Hyderabad FC, Odisha FC, NorthEast United FC, Mohammedan Sporting Club, being the other teams. Applications of the I League sides Churchill Brothers FC Goa and Inter Kashi, which are in contention for the ISL, were also rejected. Applicants will have to comply with sporting, infrastructure, personnel and administrative, legal, and financial criteria in order to obtain the licence as per the Indian Club Licensing Regulations. 'We cannot reveal the reasons for which the licence application was rejected owing to confidentiality issues. But a report citing the reasons for the rejection has been sent to the club in keeping with the procedures. This is nothing new as the club's application was rejected last year as well but was granted an exemption to participate in the ISL,' AIFF sources told The Hindu. The club in a social media post stated that certain compliance requirements beyond its control has resulted in it being not granted clearance under the club licencing process for the 2025-26 season. 'We are in active discussions with the relevant authorities and are working closely with all stakeholders to seek an appropriate resolution and tackle the resulting implications in the shortest possible time to avoid any issues for the upcoming season,' the post said. However, it was reliably learnt that infrastructure and security issues at the Kaloor international stadium, which has been the Albatross around the neck for KBFC for long, probably led to the rejection. The club has reportedly taken up the infrastructure shortcomings with the stadium owner Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) repeatedly but to no avail. GCDA sources said that the club has not communicated whether the infrastructure issues have led to the rejection of its licence application. 'We have a yearly agreement with the club, which pays a match fee, which was ₹8.75 lakh per match,' said sources. A top Asian Football Federation had dubbed the Kaloor stadium as a 'recipe for disaster', during his visit in 2023 while recalling the incident in which more than 125 people, including many children, were killed after thousands of fans rushed on to the ground after their home team lost a match at Malang in Indonesia in October 2022.
The Hindu
30-04-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Sahal Abdul Samad eyes return to Indian national team with Super Cup success
When Mohun Bagan Super Giant's Sahal Abdul Samad deftly scored the opening goal against Kerala Blasters FC in their Super Cup 2025 quarterfinal fixture, the midfielder's face had a sense of relief. His arms went up as he stared into the sky and exhaled deeply before breaking into a smile. It was his first goal in almost eight months for his club. 'Finding the back of the net always brings happiness to a player. Especially, in a tough match, it's obviously an amazing feeling,' noted Sahal. While MBSG secured a historic Indian Super League double (League Shield and Cup), Sahal had his own setbacks to overcome. Sporadic injuries took their toll on the 28-year-old and allowed him to play for only 816 minutes, which is the second-lowest for him after the 2019-2020 season (not including debut season). However, rather than drowning in despondency, Sahal chose to take it on the chin and look ahead. READ | Mohun Bagan SG eyes maiden Super Cup final 'Injuries are always part of football, and I always see it that way,' Sahal told Sportstar during an exclusive chat. 'The physios, the team medicals, they all supported me through this tough time. It was a lesson for me to be patient and keep working harder, and to do the necessary things outside of football,' he added. Ever since he made his first appearance for KBFC back in 2018, Sahal has been deemed as one of the most remarkable talents the country has produced. He quickly became a mainstay for the Blasters, making 92 appearances for the club while also playing a major part in the 2021-22 campaign, where it reached the final before losing to Hyderabad FC on penalties. His performances earned him a big-money move to Mohun Bagan in 2023, where he won the ISL League Shield twice and the ISL Cup and Durand Cup both once. Speaking about the transition between the clubs, Sahal said that he was content with the decision that he took, while also explaining the differences that he experienced. 'Like every team, when I was playing there (KBFC), we were all fighting for the trophy. You know how close we were. But, when I came here (MBSG), there was a feeling that this is a champion team,' Sahal noted. 'The players around, the mentality, the management, it is all different here. I am happy about the step I took, which is a difficult step. But thankfully, I could handle it well,' he added. With MBSG fielding essentially a reserve side for the ongoing Super Cup, Sahal, one of the few seniors in the side, said that he is trying his best to set an example. 'At first, it was a little bit difficult during training because we didn't know the junior players that well. But then, from the second and third day, they were all doing very well. And the best thing to motivate them is for us to work harder than they do,' Sahal explained.. 'So, then, they will be eager to fight back. That is one thing I always tell them. Fight for everything. Give everything in your training, and success will come around,' he added. National team and the future ahead Since his national team call-up in 2019, Sahal has earned 39 caps, scoring three goals and assisting two in that period, while also lifting the Intercontinental Cup (2023) and two SAFF Championships (2021, 2023). However, commenting on the national team's recent below-par performances, Sahal said that one of the main reasons could be the limited time the players get to gel with each other. 'I think it's the lack of time we have together. The training period is comparatively less. And then, it's all about mentality. Playing matches with different countries, top level players, all that makes a difference. ALSO READ | Chhangte: I believe something good will happen this year for Indian national team However, Sahal had words of praise for the current national team head coach, Manolo Marquez, and appreciated the boss's demand to play attractive football. 'We all know what he (Manolo) is capable of. Even when he was with Hyderabad, he won the trophy. He wants to keep playing beautiful football and fight for the ball. That's a huge plus point for our national team,' said Sahal. Now, with India's AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifier match against Hong Kong coming up in June and the camp likely to begin late in May, Sahal will hope to make his return to the squad after missing out on the last four matches. The Super Cup, in which he awaits Manolo's FC Goa in the semifinal on Wednesday, could be just the platform Sahal needs to prove that he is back to his best and reclaim his spot in the national setup.
The Hindu
27-04-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Super Cup 2025: Catala slams players' mentality after quarterfinal exit
Kerala Blasters FC (KBFC) head coach David Catala criticised the mentality of his players after they succumbed to a 1-2 loss against a young Mohun Bagan Super Giant (MBSG) side in their Super Cup 2025 quarterfinal match at the Kalinga Stadium here on Saturday. Former KBFC midfielder Sahal Abdul Samad scored the opening goal, while 20-year-old Suhail Bhat scored the eventual winner to send MBSG into the semifinal, where it will face FC Goa. 'I am disappointed because we had some expectations for this competition. We tried to change the mentality of the players, but I can see that some of them still have not changed,' Catala told the media at the post-match press conference. ALSO READ | Mohun Bagan Super Giant youngsters pass Kerala Blasters test to book spot in last four After a promising win against defending champion East Bengal in the round of 16, KBFC failed to match the quality and had a forgettable time in defence as well as in front of goal. MBSG's young wingers, Salahudheen Adnan K and Ashique Kuruniyan, made light work of skipping past KBFC fullbacks Huidrom Naocha Singh and Hormipam Ruivah, respectively, before setting up the goals for their side. 'I thought that we were strong in defence, but then we ended up conceding two easy goals. We knew their strength and that they were going to attack us from the sides, but still we were very soft in the 1v1's and it ended up costing us the game,' Catala admitted. In attack, Spanish striker Jesus Jimenez, who was the club's top scorer in the recently concluded Indian Super League season (11 goals), missed as many as three clear-cut chances in the second half. He sent two close-range attempts off target in a span of three minutes before miscuing his shot into the opposition goalkeeper's gloves with the goal at his mercy, late in the game. 'We had a lot of chances to score, but we were not efficient enough. If you really are ready and concentrating 100 per cent, then we simply cannot miss these chances. Meanwhile, they (MBSG) created just two or three clear chances and scored two goals,' Catala said. When asked if the absence of the injured Adrian Luna played a factor in the loss, Catala refused to make excuses and asserted that football is a team game, and it would not be fair to depend on just one player. 'We are a team, so it is not a matter of missing just one player. I think we were not strong enough to compete today, and this is something that we need to improve on for our upcoming season,' Catala concluded.
The Hindu
26-04-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Sahal and Suhail help MBSG prevail over KBFC
Mohun Bagan Super Giant's youngsters justified their selection for the Super Cup 2025 after beating Kerala Blasters 2-1 in their quarterfinal clash at the Kalinga Stadium here on Saturday. Former KBFC man Sahal Abdul Samad and youngster Suhail Bhat scored in either half, while Sreekuttan M. S. got a consolation goal in added time for the Blasters. After over 20 minutes played without an attempt at either end of the pitch, it was Sahal who made full use of MBSG's first chance in front of the goal. Debutant Salahudheen Adnan K. showcased some silky footwork on the right to get past Huidrom Naocha Singh and dribble into the box before laying the ball off to Sahal inside the six-yard box. The midfielder did well to take a touch away from R.V. Hormipam before producing a composed chip past Sachin Suresh to take the lead. The Mariners doubled the lead in six minutes into the second half when Ashique Kuruniyan skipped past Hormipam on the left wing before delivering an inch-perfect pass into the middle. Suhail, the youngest player on the pitch for MBSG, made a run ahead of Drincic and guided the ball into the back of the net. KBFC got one back through Sreekuttan in the fourth minute of added time, who drilled the ball into the net after reaching a defence-splitting through ball from Jesus Jimenez. The result: Kerala Blasters 1 (M.S. Sreekuttan 90+4) lost to Mohun Bagan Super Giant 2 (Sahal Abdul Samad 22, Suhail Bhat 51).
