MARGAO
Indian Super League outfit Kerala Blasters FC have begun pre-season training at GFA Duler Ground, Mapusa under assistant coach Ishfaq Ahmed since Thursday.
The club, in a statement, said in adherence to all league guidelines and taking necessary prerequisites of this pandemic period, the KBFC players will train at Duler for a few days, before switching to the ground at Peddem Sports Complex, the official training venue of the club for the season.
Kerala Blasters have brought in many replacements to their existing squad. While they appointed Mohun Bagan’s I-League title-winning coach Kibu Vicuna as the new head coach, they also roped in a sporting director in Karolis Skinkys.
Following the last season, ace goalscorer Bartholomew Ogbeche left the club, who has been replaced by former Celtic and Norwich City striker Gary Hooper. Apart from Hooper, the southerners have also brought in Facundo Pereyra and Vicente Gomez Umpierrez who will be integral to the plans of Vicuna.
The Blasters have also signed several talented domestic players.
Nishu Kumar and Prabhsukhan Singh Gill joined from rivals Bengaluru FC, Lalthathanga Khawlhring was roped in from NorthEast United, Naorem Mahesh Singh and Kenstar Kharshong have joined from Shillong Lajong and will be integral to the Kerala Blasters squad in the coming season.
The current pre-season squad includes the following players: Goalkeepers: Albino Gomes, Prabhsukhan Singh Gill, Bilal Husain Khan, and Muheet Shabir; Defenders: Denechandra Meitei, Jessel Carneiro, Nishu Kumar, Lalruatthara, Abdul Hakku, Sandeep Singh, Kenstar Kharshong; Midfielders: Sahal Abdul Samad, Jeakson Singh, Rohit Kumar, Arjun Jayaraj, Lalthathanga Khawlhring, Ayush Adhikari, Gotimayum Muktasana, Givson Singh Moirangthem, Rahul KP, Seityasen Singh, Prasanth K, Ritwik Das, Nongdamba Naorem, Sergio Cidoncha, Facundo Pereyra, Vicente Gomez Umpierrez; Forwards: Shaiborlang Kharpan, Naorem Mahesh Singh, and Gary Hooper.
In addition to the above, the remaining foreign add-ons will soon be joining the team in the coming weeks. The full-fledged training of the new squad will commence with the arrival of the foreign contingent and the complete coaching staff to India.
