SLK: Calicut FC announces team, Midfielder Jijo Jose is captain

Calicut / September 1, 2024

Kozhikode, Sep. 01: Dashing midfielder Jijo Jose will lead Calicut FC in the inaugural Super League Kerala (SLK), as the club announced its 26-member team studded with stars and super-fit players aiming to clinch the two-month-long tournament slated to kick off this weekend.

Ready with its internationally-renowned coach Ian Andrew Gillan, the squad will have five overseas players and a chunk of the array from Kerala. Two other national-level players are from Haryana and one is from Manipur.

“We are high on optimism,” said club franchisee owner and leading tech entrepreneur V.K. Mathews this evening, as strobe lights beamed across the raised dais at the Kozhikode beach where hundreds of cheering buffs gathered at the ceremony, lit up by a sing-and-dance extravaganza. "This is your team. Do come and watch the matches, bring in your family and friends."

Amid loud cheers, celebrity commentator Shaiju Damodaran called in the names of the Calicut FC players to present a grand line-up for the frenzied crowd.

As the six-team SLK is slated to begin on September 7 in Kochi, Representing Kozhikode, Kannur, Malappuram, Thrissur, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram, the teams will slug it out for the coveted trophy that carries a prize-money of Rs 1.50 crore.

With Biby Thomas Muttath as coach assisting Ian, Calicut FC will, from September 10, play ten matches in the league stage. The top four from the 30 league matches will qualify for the playoffs.

Mathews, who is founder-Executive Chairman of IBS Software which is the global leader in technology for the aviation industry, said Calicut FC, which he owns has brought together an outstanding team and support staff.

"We will develop and professionalise football in Kerala by offering playing opportunities to local players alongside skilled overseas players and exposing them to the rigour of international football," added the CEO of IBS that has 5,000 employees.

Bino Jose Eapen, who is secretary of the franchise, welcomed the gathering, while other speakers were Members of Parliament Abdul Wahab and Shafi Parambil, MLA Ahmed Devarkovil and Kerala Football Association head Navas Meeran and Calicut FC CEO Korath V Mathews.

Calicut FC’s home-ground is EMS Corporation Stadium in the city, where they will play five home matches.

The away matches will be played in the cities of the other teams.

EMS Corporation stadium at Kozhikode, the home ground of Calicut FC, will feature the largest number of matches: 11 out of the total 33. This includes the first semi-final on November 5. The finals will be played in Kochi on November 10. All matches will be covered live on Star Sports and Disney Hotstar.

The team has been practicing and getting ready at the MAMO stadium Mukkam since the first week of August.

Today’s four-hour celebrations began with exhibition matches, music bands and contests. The football carnival had games, fan-club performances, baloon-dance and club merchandise among others, followed by live stage shows of famed rapper-songwriter Thirumali, hip-hop band ThudWizer and DJ Samuraizz.

EMS Corporation stadium will feature the largest number of matches, 11 out of the total of 33 matches, including the first semi-final on November 5. The finals will be played in Kochi on November 10.

All the matches will be played at 7.30 pm to suit the TV and in-stadia viewership pattern of the football-crazy citizenry of the state.

Calicut FC, which is promoted by the IBS Group that also includes IBS Software, is one of the most accomplished technology companies in the world for the global travel industry. IBS Software has over 5,000 employees from 42 nationalities, across 17 offices worldwide, including four in India and two in Kerala. Calicut FC is the only team in the SLK with a single owner: VK Mathews, Chairman IBS Group.

Calicut FC aims to set up a state-of-the-art infrastructure and training facility in Kozhikode for aspiring football players across the country.

The team had last month, released its jerseys of three kinds: teal-and-blue (home), yellow (away matches) and pink-and-lavender (for practice). Coach Gillan unveiled the jerseys, in the presence of Biby and the franchise’s secretary Bino besides five players, at an August 10 gala event attended by fans.

 ENDS