Kochi: The Kerala team for the 76th Santosh Trophy football matches has been announced. Goal keeper and experienced V. Led by Mithun (Kannur). From December 26 to January 8, the group matches of the current champions Kerala will be held at the Kozhikode Corporation Stadium.
They will face Rajasthan in the first qualifier. Bihar will be the opponents in the second match on 29th. The Kerala team has a match on New Year’s Day as well. Andhra is the opponent. They will face Jammu and Kashmir on January 5. The last match of the group stage is against Mizoram on January 8. Captain Mithun said that the team’s aim is to become group champions.
B. Naresh (19) is the baby of the team. Naresh is a native of Goodalur. Captain and goalkeeper Mithun is the oldest – 29 years old. This is Mithun’s eighth Santosh trophy. He was also a member of the Kerala team that won the title in 2017 and 2021. This time, Kerala is entering the Santosh Trophy with 16 new faces in the 22-member team. Mithun, M. of the team that won the title last year. Only Vignesh and Nijo Gilbert are in the new team.
Eight are members of the silver winning team at the National Games held in Gujarat. Six players also have the experience of playing Santosh Trophy before.
Kerala team members: Goalkeepers -v. Mithun Kannur (Captain), P.A. Ajmal -Malappuram, T.V. Alkesh Raj – Thrissur.
Defence-M. Manoj – Thiruvananthapuram, R. Shinu – Thiruvananthapuram, K. Amin -Malappuram, Belgin Bolster -Thiruvananthapuram, U. Muhammad Saleem -Malappuram, Sachu CB -Idukki, Akhil J. Chandran – Ernakulam, J. Jerito – Thiruvananthapuram. Middle Row: Rishidat – Thrissur, M. Rashid – Kasaragod, Gifty C. Gracias -Wayanad, Nijo Gilbert -Thiruvananthapuram, P. Ajeesh – Thiruvananthapuram, Rizwan Ali – Kasaragod, Vysakh Mohanan – Ernakulam, K.K. Abdur Rahim -Malappuram, Advancement Line: M. Vignesh – Thiruvananthapuram, b. Naresh – Thiruvananthapuram, J. John Paul – Thiruvananthapuram.
Team Officials: P.B. Ramesh – Kollam (Head Coach), Bineesh Kiran – Kannur (Associate Coach) K.K. Hameed – Thrissur (Goalkeeper Coach), Muhammad Rafiq -Kasarkot (Manager), R. Akshay – Wayanad (Team Physio). Reserved Players: Hajmal S – Palakkad (Goalkeeper), O.M. Asif – Ernakulam (Midfielder), K. Sriraj-Kasarkot (striker), V. Arjun – Ernakulam (Midfielder).
Ramco Cements is the main sponsor of the Kerala team this time. Ramco Marketing General Manager Gopakumar, Kerala Football Association Vice President P. Paulus, General Secretary P. Anil Kumar, Treasurer M. Shivakumar and Score Line Sports Pvt Ltd Director Feroze Meeran attended the team announcement ceremony. Along with this, the team’s jersey was also released.