Kerala Blasters have announced their squad for the upcoming Durand Cup campaign. The squad comprises 29 players and will include most of the new signings.
Bilal Khan won’t be playing for the Yellow Army in the competition as the club mutually parted ways with him. However, overseas recruits Enes Sipovic, Adrian Luna, Jorge Pereyra Diaz as well as AFC quota signing Chencho Gyeltshen have been included in the squad. Whereas, Alvaro Vasquez won’t be available since the maximum number of permittable foreigners is four.
The two-time Indian Super League finalists face the Indian Navy on 11th September. Then, they face familiar foes Bengaluru FC on 15th September. Finally, they face I-League second division side Delhi FC on 21st September.
Kerala Blasters ready to fire at all cylinders in the Durand Cup with their young, energetic squad
Kerala Blasters have had a mixed pre-season so far with friendlies against I-League second division club Kerala United. They lost 1-0 in the first match and were held to a 3-3 draw with Sipovic and Luna getting some fresh air.
However, in the newly announced squad, youngsters who have impressed for them in the friendlies have been included. One of them is the talented teen Sreekuttan. Additionally, players like Rahul KP, Sahal Abdul Samad and Jeakson Singh, who were in the national camp, have also been included in the squad.
Here’s the 29-member squad announced by the Blasters :
Head coach Ivan Vukomanovic would be leading the team in their first-ever appearance in Asia’s oldest competition. However, Gyeltshen would be keen on playing against his former club, Bengaluru FC, with whom he won an ISL. Whereas, Luna was an inspired substitution last time around despite not finding himself on the scoresheet.
The Kerala club will now play Jammu and Kashmir in another friendly in Kochi on 3rd September.
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