Kerala Blasters FC announce a strong squad for Durand Cup

Kerala Blasters FC will look to make their presence felt in their first match with the Indian Navy on September 11.

Kerala Blasters announce 26-member squad for the upcoming Durand Cup 2021; Credit: Twitter/@KeralaBlasters
By Sreejith C R | Sep 4, 2021 | 3 Min Read follow icon Follow Us

Kerala Blasters FC on Thursday announced its 26-member squad for the upcoming Durand Cup 2021. The Kochi-based side will start their campaign against Indian Navy on September 11 at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK) stadium, followed by the second game against fellow ISL side Bengaluru FC on September 15 at the same venue. In their final group match, on September 21, Blasters will face Delhi FC at Mohun Bagan club ground. Head coach Ivan Vukomanovic has announced a strong squad consisting of Indian international Sahal Abdul Samad, Jeakson Singh, new signings Harmanjot Singh Khabra, Enes Sipovic, Jorge Pereyera Diaz, Chencho Gyeltshen.

The 130th edition of the Durand Cup will start in Kolkata from September 5 with 16 teams fighting it out for the coveted trophy. The 2021 edition will feature teams from both Indian Super League (ISL) and I-League. Defending champions Gokulam Kerala FC, along with Mohammedan Sporting and Sudeva Delhi FC are the clubs from I-League that will participate in the upcoming tournament.

The new Blasters boss who was brought in for the 2021-22 ISL season starting in November will be seeing the Durand Cup as a perfect opportunity to test his squad. Only three foreigners, Jorge Pereyera Diaz, Adrian Luna and Chench Geyltshen are there in the Durand Cup squad. Therefore Vukomanovic is likely to give some game time to his domestic contingent. The likes of VS Sreekuttan and Sanjeev Stalin had given a good account of themselves in the pre-season training matches.

Kerala Blasters didn’t have the best of starts to their pre-season games as they lost the first game 1-0 to Kerala United FC. However, the team played a much better game in the entertaining 3-3 draw against the same outfit in the next match. And then, in the final practice match before leaving for Kolkata, Vukomanovic’s side beat Jammu And Kashmir FC 2-0 at the Panampily Nagar ground, Kochi on September 3.

In the final practice match on Friday, Blasters played a possession-based game with Khabra and Givson deployed as holding midfielders. Khabra, who joined the Blasters this summer from Bengaluru FC is a versatile player whom we are used to seeing at the right-back position while at BFC.

Luna played the role of the attacking midfielder with Rahul KP as the striker. Prasanth KP and Seityasen Singh occupied the wings.

Although in the first game the midfield looked clueless, in the next two games they have started pulling the strings and are growing in confidence. 20-year-old Givson, alongside veteran Khabra did a pretty good job.

Meanwhile, Sahal and Jeakson who are in Nepal for international duty will only make things better once they are back.

Substitute Sanjeev Stalin and captain Seityasen Singh netted for the Blasters against JKFC.

The Durand Cup squad

Defenders: Bijoy V, Enes Sipovic, Jessel Carneiro, Abdul Hakku, Sanjeev Stalin, Hormipam Ruivah, Shahajas Thekkan, Denechandra Meitei, and Sandeep Singh

Midfielders: Jeakson Singh, Sahal Abdul Samad, Rahul K P, Adrian Luna, Sukham Yoihenba Meitei, Lalthathanga Khawlhring, Gaurav K, Harmanjot Khabra, Givson Singh, Ayush Adhikari, Prasanth K, Seityasen Singh, Vincy Barretto, and Anil Gaonkar

Forwards: Jorge Pereyra Diaz, V S Sreekuttan, and Chencho Gyeltshen





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