New Talents Emerge As Kerala Football Team Gears Up For Santosh Trophy Final

Injuries Force Squad Adjustments
The replacements come as midfielders Bijesh Balan and Mohammed Rashid, along with striker K Junain, have been sidelined due to injuries sustained during the Kerala Premier League. Coach Satheevan Balan emphasised the need for defensive reinforcement, leading to the inclusion of centre-back Akhil J Chandran.

Coach's Perspective on Squad Changes
Coach Balan expressed challenges faced during preparations due to the players' commitments to the Kerala Premier League. However, he highlighted the silver lining of discovering new talents from the KPL, including Safneed and Mohamed Mahdi, although the latter was sidelined due to injury.

“Since Kerala Premier League matches were going on, most of the players had to leave the camp and join their respective teams which affected our preparations,” said Balan, but added that he was also able to find new talents from KPL.

“The newly included players, Akhil and Safneed, were spotted while playing the KPL. Also, I wanted to include Mohamed Mahdi but unfortunately, he was injured during the final match,” said Balan.

Unveiling Promising Talents
The new additions, Safneed and Mahdi, showcased their skills while representing Sports Academy Tirur in the KPL. Mahdi's exceptional performance earned him the title of Player of the Tournament, underlining Kerala's depth of talent.

Looking Ahead to the Santosh Trophy
Kerala's squad, led by captain Nijo Gilbert and deputy Sanju G, is gearing up for the Santosh Trophy's final round in Arunachal Pradesh. With the team set to face Assam in their opening fixture, anticipation runs high as Kerala aims to make a mark on the national football stage.

Kerala squad: Goalkeepers: Muhammed Azhar, Sidharth Rajeevan, Muhammed Nishad; Defenders: Belgin Bolster, Sanju G, Shinu R, Mohammed Salim, Nithin Madhu, Sujith R, Sarath KP, Akhil J Chandran Midfielders: Nijo Gilbert, Arjun V, Jithin G, Akbar Sidhique N P, Rizwan Ali EK, Abdhu Raheem Gifty Gracious; Strikers:, Sajeesh E, Muhammed Ashiq S, Naresh B, Mohamed Safneed PP