The players have cleared their quarantine period, health check-ups, and have also received vaccines for a stronger and healthier kick start to the season.
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Indian Super League (ISL) franchise Kerala Blasters FC have commenced their preseason squad training at Panampilly Nagar ground. The squad will be trained under head coach Ivan Vukomanović, and his team prior to the upcoming edition of the ISL. Adhering to the prerequisites of the pandemic period, all the KBFC players will be in bio-bubble this season. The players have cleared their quarantine period, health check-ups, and have also received vaccines for a stronger and healthier kick start to the season.
“We are excited to train this preseason in God’s own country. All of us are thrilled and well-set to let the flame rise. We look forward to an enthusiastic and rigorous training this season. We are also building the opportunities for organizing the best team for ISL 2021-22,” said Kerala Blasters FC’s Head Coach Ivan Vukomanovic.
The current pre-season squad includes the following players:
Goalkeepers: Albino Gomes, Prabhsukhan Singh Gill, Bilal Husain Khan, Muheet Shabir, and Sachin Suresh.
Defenders: Shahajas Thekkan, Sandeep Singh, Bijoy V, Abdul Hakku, Hormipam Ruivah, Jessel Carneiro, Sanjeev Stalin, and Denechandra Meitei.
Midfielders: Harmanjot Khabra, Jeakson Singh, Sukham Yoihenba Meitei, Lalthathanga Khawlhring, Sahal Abdul Samad, Ayush Adhikari, Givson Singh, Rahul K P, Prasanth K, Naorem Mahesh, Seityasen Singh, Vincy Barretto, and Anil Gaonkar.
Forwards: VS Sreekuttan and Subha Ghosh.
In addition to the above, Adrian Nicolas Luna Retamar and Enes Sipovic along with the remaining foreign players will soon be joining the team post their quarantine, and necessary health check-ups in the coming weeks for a full-fledged training.
Odisha FC have reached an agreement with Kickstart FC over a loan deal of young Indian midfielder Nikhil Raj who will now play for the Bhubaneswar-based side during the upcoming eighth edition of the ISL. The 20-year-old has been a part of the Karnataka team in two editions of the Santosh Trophy and was awarded the best midfielder in the BDFA Super Division last season.
He went on loan to the Indian Arrows and made nine appearances for them in the previous season of the I-League.
Expressing his delight, Nikhil said, “I am very happy. I am very excited to play in the Indian Super League. Expect to learn a lot of things there, and I know it’s a big opportunity for me. I am very excited to play for Odisha FC.”
Odisha FC Club President Mr. Raj Athwal mentioned, “We are pleased to welcome highly rated Nikhil Raj. A versatile player, the young talent has the opportunity to showcase his ability at the Premier level of Indian football.”
The Odisha-based franchise recently announced the signing of Spanish attacking midfielder Javi Hernandez. The Spaniard made his senior debut for Real Madrid B, following a youth career at CDF Pizarrales, Salamanca and Real Madrid. Hernandez joined Romanian professional club ACS Poli Timisoara after this. The footballer further went on to play professional football in Poland and Azerbaijan before signing for ATK in 2019. Hernandez was retained by the newly-formed ATK Mohun Bagan in 2020, following a victorious campaign.
