Category: Club News

The Club is pleased to announce the appointment of T.G. Purushothaman as the new Assistant Coach for the first team on a 3-year contract, until 2026. Purushothaman, who has been promoted from our youth system, will bring his invaluable experience and dedication to further enhance the team’s coaching staff.

As Assistant Coach, Purushothaman will work closely with the head coach and players of the first team, providing vital support and guidance to ensure the team’s continued growth and success. Additionally, he will maintain his existing responsibilities within the youth system, serving as a bridge between the reserve team and the first team.

Purushothaman’s appointment reflects Kerala Blasters’ ongoing commitment to nurturing talent from within and building a strong foundation for long-term success. Having previously played a crucial role in the development of numerous young talents within our youth system, Purushottaman’s promotion to the first team coaching staff is a testament to his exceptional skills and expertise.

With a deep understanding of our club’s philosophy and the unique challenges faced by young players transitioning to the first team, Purushottaman will play a pivotal role in ensuring a seamless integration of talent.

Commenting on the appointment of T.G. Purushothaman, Karolis Skinkys, Sporting Director, Kerala Blasters, said:

“We are delighted to welcome T.G. Purushottaman to the first team coaching staff. He is a coach who took important part in many of our current first team player development. As a club, we are proud to have people in our system who can take such a big responsibility. I believe coach will be providing our players with the best possible support to achieve their goals.”

Purushottaman himself expressed his enthusiasm for the new role, saying:
“I am honored and excited to join the first team coaching staff at KBFC. Having worked closely with the young players in our youth system, I am well aware of the immense potential within the club. I am eager to contribute to their development and help create a seamless transition from the reserve team to the first team. I also look forward to working closely with Coach Ivan and the rest of the coaching staff and hope we can make a great season!”

The Club looks forward to the positive impact T.G. Purushottaman will have on the team and is confident that his appointment will further strengthen the coaching setup, fostering a culture of excellence and success both on and off the field.

In a landmark move, Kerala Blasters FC can confirm that young midfielder Vibin Mohanan has travelled to Greece for a one-month training stint with Greek First Division Club, OFI Crete.

OFI Crete, one of the most respected clubs in Greek football, recognizes the potential and talent Vibin possesses. They have extended an invitation for him to join their pre-season, providing a remarkable opportunity to train and compete at the highest level. Kerala Blasters FC wholeheartedly supports Vibin’s decision and believes that this experience will be invaluable in shaping his professional career.

The 20-year-old will train with the Greek side for one-month during which, he will be able to gain important footballing experience with the help of the coaches and staff at OFI Crete in an immersive training environment.

The youngster is expected to take full part in the pre-season preparations, including travelling with the side to Netherlands for 2 weeks where they play at least 3 matches against Dutch First Division teams.
Karolis Skinkys, Sporting Director, Kerala Blasters Football Club said:
“This move is an indication of our belief in Vibin and an indication that talent at Kerala Blasters will be encouraged and nurtured. Vibin had an encouraging first season and we want to do the best to deliver on promises we make to young players like Vibin that choose to trust us with their future. Our endeavor is to have more moves like this, which can potentially open doors for others to gain a similar experience too. It brings me great pleasure to be able to see Vibin in a European context and hopefully set a benchmark for many more young Indian players to follow. I want to thank our colleagues at OFI Crete facilitating this training stint and we wish Vibin the very best for his time in Europe.”

Vibin’s training stint is the second such initiative by the Club to facilitate international exposure trips for its players. Last season, Kerala Blasters academy graduates Aimen & Azhar joined Polish club Rakow Czestochowa for a similar training stint.

Kerala Blasters FC remains dedicated to its youth development program and will continue to nurture and promote young talents within the club. We look forward to witnessing Vibin’s continued growth and success.

In the latest CIES Football Observatory Weekly Post, the top 100 clubs in the world with the most followers on social networks have been highlighted, with Kerala Blasters FC ranked 70th in the list, being the only football club from India to feature.

With 6.7 million followers across Twitter (2 million), Instagram (3.4 million), and Facebook (1.3 million), Kerala Blasters leads the football vertical on social media in India, with a virtual footprint which rivals that of some of the leading and most famous football clubs around the world.

This strong and unrivalled social media presence epitomises a strong bond between the club and its fanbase. It also is a reflection of the club’s commitment to produce engaging and creatively-driven content that bridges the gap between the fans and the Club.

“It is indeed a great achievement for our Club. It is a reflection of the club’s constant efforts to innovate digitally and find meaningful ways to connect and engage with our wonderful fanbase. There are ongoing efforts to further grow the Club’s brand and fan base beyond India. In the coming years, with pre-season tours and exposure matches being planned in the Middle East and South East Asia and exciting partnerships with global brands. we are well placed to tap into the Top 50 very soon.”
The Club’s director, Mr.Nikhil Bhardwaj had this to say about KBFC’s rise in the digital world.

It is an honor to represent India amongst all the international clubs on the list. The Club realizes the responsibility it bears to maintain these standards and remains committed to exploring and growing further through uncharted territories in the ever-important world of social media.

Kerala Blasters FC would like to announce that we have extended the contract of veteran goalkeeper Karanjit Singh for a period of one year, extending his stay at the club till 2024. This extension will see Karanjit Singh continue in his role as a part of the Kerala Blasters’ goalkeeping unit.

Commenting on the contract extension of Karanjit Singh, Karolis Skinkys, Sporting Director, Kerala Blasters, said:
“Karanjit has a wealth of experience that holds our entire goalkeeping squad in good stead. His work ethic and bonding with the coaches and the rest of the squad make him a team player to the core. I hope he has a good upcoming season with us.”

Karanjit Singh said:
“This will be my third season at Kerala Blasters, and the experience that I have had and the friends that I have made at the club are truly close to my heart. I hope to contribute in every way possible to the success of the team in the next season.”

The club would like to congratulate Karanjit and wish him the best for his upcoming tenure.

Kerala Blasters FC can confirm the departure of Victor Mongil, Apostolos Giannou, Ivan Kaliuzhnyi, Harmanjot Khabra, and Muheet Khan from the team as their contract period expired on May 31st.

The Club is thankful for the efforts these players displayed for the team, over their respective tenures. We would like to wish them the best for the future.

Kerala Blasters FC can confirm that Club captain Jessel Carneiro will leave the Club after his contract runs out on May 31. The left-back’s journey with the Blasters comes to an end after four incredible years.

Jessel, who joined the Club prior to the 2019-20 Hero ISL season, made an instant impact for Kerala Blasters in his debut season. During his first season, he exhibited exceptional defensive skills, neutralizing opponent attacks while actively contributing to the team’s offensive plays.

A string of consistent performances led to Jessel’s multi-year extension and promotion as vice-captain of the Club in the subsequent season. Jessel would then step up to fill in admirably as Club Captain for the remainder of the season after a mid-season injury to the then captain, Sergio Cidoncha.

In the ensuing 2021-22 season, Jessel was appointed as the Club’s permanent captain. His leadership and determination is exemplified by the fact that despite a mid-season shoulder injury that kept him on the sidelines, Jessel continued to lead the team with one of the youngest squads in the league at hand. With various players in only their debut season for the Club, under Jessel’s captaincy, the Club finished in the top four and as runners-up in the Championship final.

In his four seasons with the club, Jessel amassed over 65 appearances, providing 6 assists. He leaves the club as a Club icon and fan favorite.

The club extends its sincerest gratitude to Jessel for his unwavering contributions on and off the field. We wholeheartedly wish him the very best in all his future endeavors and look forward to welcoming him back at Kaloor.

Kerala Blasters FC announced today the contract extension of Assistant Coach Frank Dauwen until 2025. This extension will see Frank continue to be a part of the coaching staff that includes Head Coach Ivan Vukomanovic, Fitness Coach Werner Martens, and Goalkeeping Coach Slaven Progovecki, until 2025. The Club would like to wish Frank the best for his upcoming tenure