Bengaluru, [30-01-2025] – Technico Football Foundation (TFF), part of Technico Sports India Pvt Ltd and Technico Excellence Foundation, continues to make waves in Karnataka football with back-to-back promotions across multiple divisions. The club’s Men’s Senior Team clinched the 2024-25 BDFA B-Division League title with an unbeaten record, earning the nickname “The Invincibles”, and securing promotion to the A-Division League. Meanwhile, their Elite Junior Boys Team finished as runners-up in the KSFA D-Division League, gaining promotion to the C-Division.
This achievement follows an already remarkable 2023-24 campaign, where TFF’s Senior Boys Team won the KSFA C-Division League, earning promotion to the B-Division, while the Elite Junior Boys were runners-up in the KSFA D-Division. With this latest success, TFF has accomplished an extraordinary feat – securing two league titles and two consecutive promotions for the Men’s Senior Team in two years.
The TFF Way – A System Built for Success
Technico Football Foundation operates a year-round training system at South United and Depot 18, with four registered teams across the KSFA and BDFA leagues:
Men’s Senior Team (A-Division)
Elite Junior Boys Team (C-Division)
Girls Senior Team (A-Division)
Elite Junior Girls Team (B-Division)
Led by Technical Director Vivek Menzel, the coaching staff includes experienced professionals such as AIFF A-License holder Amit Jaiswal (Senior Team Head Coach) and AIFF B-License holder Abhishek Malik (Junior Team Head Coach).
TFF attributes its success to its data-driven training philosophy, #TheTFFWay, which emphasizes analytics and performance tracking through partnerships with Step Out and Footrax. The team recorded an average of 267 successful passes per game this season—the highest in the league—showcasing their commitment to technical excellence.
Expanding for the Future
Building on this momentum, TFF is expanding its grassroots development program with the introduction of U17 and U15 teams in 2025, laying the foundation for a robust youth pipeline.
With a strong culture of Integrity, Equality, and Excellence, Technico Football Foundation is rapidly shaping the footballing landscape in Bengaluru and beyond.
We recently caught up with Kishore S Reddy, CEO of Sporting Club Bengaluru, to discuss the club’s impressive journey, his personal football experiences, and future aspirations. In this insightful interview, Reddy shares the club’s rapid ascent through the ranks, the importance of local talent, and how Sporting Club Bengaluru aims to make a lasting impact on Indian football.
Q: Can you give us a brief overview of Sporting Club Bengaluru’s journey so far?
Kishore S Reddy: Sporting Club Bengaluru has had an exciting journey, marked by significant achievements and growth. In the 2022-23 season, we debuted in the Bengaluru Super Division league and emerged champion, and qualified for the I-League 2. That’s when AIFF rejigged the pyramid and introduced I-League 3. We topped the group after edging Diamond Harbour and then went to finish inn the top 3 of I-league 3 and qualified for I-league 2. In I-league 2, we competed with very strong teams, won 11 out of 14 matches and emerged winners there by securing the qualification to I-league. All in a span of two odd years.
Q: Tell us about your early football experiences in Bengaluru.
Kishore S Reddy: For me, I’ve always been passionate about football, influenced by my family’s army background and my uncle, who played football in the intra-services. My sports journey started pretty early in my life as I started off in athletics and winning laurels in sprinting and other disciplines. I had started playing football too way before our family settled in Bengaluru. In Bengaluru, my sporting life took off at KV DRDO, CV Raman Nagar, where I participated in athletics and football and won medals for the school in various competitions. Just as many in my generation, I got Inspired by Maradona, and my love for football only grew through my school, college, and university years. In Bengaluru, we had smaller tournaments where even professional players and semi-professional players participated. I had a team called Anti-Virus, and we played in a lot of these tournaments and got introduced to many of the talents in Bengaluru. Unfortunately, I had to stop playing due to an ACL injury. During my playing time, I observed professional players from HAL and BEML, which fuelled my fascination with Indian football, especially in the early 2000s. I met players like Alex Praveen, who is also the assistant coach of SC Bengaluru now and Chethan Kumar, who was captain of Karnataka Santosh Trophy during my playing career in Bengaluru. In 2014, when Ozone FC came into existence, and I represented many of these talents and placed them in Ozone FC which went on win the Super Division Title in the debut season itself.
Q: How did you transition from playing to managing and promoting football?
Kishore S Reddy: My transition began in the final year of my engineering when I joined Kshatriya Sports in 2013 and worked there for a year. That is where I my met my future business partner Prithvi Ramakrishnan as well. During that period Bengaluru was witnessing an artificial turf boom as well. This got us thinking, and we got involved in the pay & play scene for a while. Most of the football plating nations have strong amateur league or Sunday leagues but in India we lacked that. We saw an opportunity there and started The Amateur League (TAL) in 2014, which went on to become a big hit that we expanded even to Delhi in 2016.
Q: How did Sporting Club Bengaluru come into existence?
Kishore S Reddy: Post-pandemic, we brainstormed about the direction that TAL needs to take. I had some thoughts regarding establishing a professional team in Bengaluru and I divested my stake in Sports Paddock, the parent company of TAL and set out to realize my ambitions. I did a lot of research at that point and realized that in the next decade or so, ISL clubs are likely to break even, and there’s potential for promotion to the ISL from I-league. I started scouting for investors to set up a professional club, and in early 2022, we collaborated with Sporting Group International from the UK. Their CEO, Mr. Adrian Wright, who was also a former board director at West Bromwich Albion, along with his partners Kulbir Sohi and Tony Sohi, invested in the club in a personal capacity and established Sporting Club, Bengaluru.
How important is the “local connect” factor for Sporting Bengaluru?
Kishore S Reddy: It is very important for Sporting Bengaluru. We are always on the lookout for local talent and promoting them. So far, we have given a lot of opportunities to local talent and will continue to do so in the future. I have a very interesting anecdote to share in this regard. In our 2022-23 debut BDFA Super Division League season, we took on Kickstart FC, yet another side from Bengaluru that promotes local talent. That match drew around 3,000 spectators to the Bengaluru Football Stadium, which is a testament to the fact that we are always trying to promote local talent. Additionally, the good work we’ve done with TAL, including the first Baby League at FSV, has built a strong foundation and goodwill for us.
Q: What’s your approach to recruitment and team building at Sporting Club Bengaluru?
Kishore S Reddy: Our recruitment is heavily data and technology-driven. I’ve drawn inspiration from other figures in the Indian football ecosystem, like Gokulam Kerala FC’s president VC Praveen, and observed the methods of those who have successfully built teams. Internationally, we want to emulate clubs like Brighton and Brentford, who recruit young talents, develop them, and then sell them to make profits. We have already managed to do that with some young talent. We focus on having a strong foundation and continually redefining our strategies. For the I-League, we are looking for young, promising foreign signings who add value without compromising our principles. We have a mix of Karnataka players and talent from across the country.
Q: What are your thoughts regarding the BDFA Super Division League?
Kishore S Reddy: The BDFA Super Division has significantly improved under Mr. N.A Harris and M. Satyanarayan’s leadership, and this is what has translated into Karnataka’s success in the Santosh Trophy. Now, Karnataka has one of the best youth leagues – YPL that is being conducted for various age groups, and for the seniors the Super Division, A, B and C division league with many clubs vying for the title. The ecosystem in Bengaluru is really thriving. Now, talents across the country are ready to come and play in Bengaluru because playing in the Bengaluru league opens many opportunities for them.
Q: What are your future plans for Sporting Club Bengaluru?
Kishore S Reddy: Our plan is to push for the I-League title, and we are planning to play the matches at the Bengaluru Football Stadium, hoping to draw a good amount of support for our team. We have managed to achieve so much in this short span of time, and there is only one trajectory for us: upward. The support from the local community and our focus on leveraging data and technology will play crucial roles in our success. Our ultimate goal is to make a significant impact on Indian football and provide a platform for young talents from Karnataka to shine.
Empire FC, backed by Bengaluru’s popular food chain, Empire Restaurant and Hotels, is set to make its debut in the Bengaluru District Football Association’s “C” Division league. The competition, commencing in May, will witness the much-anticipated entry of a club supported by the NKP Empire Ventures Pvt. Ltd.(Empire) group, known for serving Bengaluru’s delicacies since 1966.
The NKP Empire Ventures Pvt. Ltd. group’s venture into football aligns with its core values of passion and community contribution. The club aims to compete for titles in Karnataka’s football ecosystem and provide a platform for aspiring footballers to showcase their skills. Empire FC aspires to contribute to the growing football culture in Karnataka under the guidance of the Karnataka Football Association.
Club President NKP Abdul Azeez, expresses excitement and anticipation about Empire FC’s future, emphasizing the club’s commitment to football driven by passion and social responsibility. He says, “It was a natural progression for us to get involved in football. The first and foremost is the passion we all have towards football. The second is our urge to give back to the society. Among the plethora of activities we do on that front, we also wanted to help our society through sports.”
Club Secretary Masoud Mohamed emphasized, “The second-generation successors of the NKP Empire Ventures Pvt. Ltd. Group, KPC Mohamed Kunhi, Late NKP Abdul Haq, and NKP Abdul Azeez, harbours deep-rooted passion for football and have played the game for their colleges and state. The love for football runs in our family. Hence, it was a logical decision to support the sport. We are confident that our efforts will contribute to enhancing the footballing ecosystem in Bengaluru and India.”
The team has attracted top talent nationwide and is providing them with excellent training facilities to prepare for upcoming matches. With regular practice sessions over the past month and a half, expert professionals oversee the team’s tactics and fitness to ensure peak performance. The club’s journey begins in the KSFA “C” Division campaign with matches starting in early May, aiming to secure the division title and earn promotion to the “B Division.”
Empire FC heralds a new chapter in Bengaluru’s football scene, entering with a strong desire to compete, uplift, and enrich Karnataka’s burgeoning football landscape.
About Empire FC: Empire FC, a football club supported by NKP Empire Ventures Pvt. Ltd., is set to make its debut in the 2023-24 season of the Karnataka State Football Association “C” Division League. This Bengaluru-based newcomer is poised to become a prominent fixture in the vibrant Bengaluru football scene.
About NKP Empire Ventures Pvt. Ltd.: NKP Empire Ventures Pvt. Ltd., the parent company of Empire Restaurant and Hotels chain, has a rich legacy rooted in Bangalore’s culinary heritage. Established in 1966 by Mr. Abdul Rahim Haji from Malaysia, Empire Restaurant has evolved from a humble alley in Shivajinagar to a renowned restaurant chain over the last five decades. Focused on authentic recipes, innovative culinary practices, and personalized service, Empire continues to offer a gastronomic journey cherished by patrons of all ages.
Fans were cheering and dressed in blue as the teams walked into the stadium. Albert Roca’s men dressed in blue (home jersey) and the Malaysian side were in their red shirts.A goalless draw would take the home team to the finals. The Malaysian side have never lost to the Indian side in their 4 meetings against them , BFC managed to walk home with a draw in their last meeting.
Peeeep!!! The match started with Bengaluru driving forward , the home advantage has given the blue’s much needed confidence. Blues dominated the field as Rino Anto troubled the JDT defense with his quality crosses . Both teams played good football , it was a delight to watch both the sides attacking each others goal .Against the run of play the visitors pierced Bengaluru’s net in the 11th minute through their captain, Safiq Rahim as he scored from the close range.
The goal certainly made the home team restless as they looked dangerous at the opponent half . They had chances to score the equaliser , but the home team was more interested in wasting the chances rather than scoring from it. On the other hand Roca’s men in looked dangerous on the break ,but their efforts lacked quality to test the keeper. Bengaluru was desperate to make the score level before the break and their moment came in the 40th minute as the captain Sunil Chhetri headed home the equaliser from Eugenson Lyngdoh’s corner. There were some odd efforts on either ends but the efforts were not enough to break the deadlock. As referee pointed to the half time scores were equal.
The second half began with the same intensity but this time the away team were dominating the field with their possession and their team play , as they were closing down too quickly on BFC players.JDT made the first substitution of the match and were bossing the midfield areas .Meanwhile home team looked dangerous on break and they got in front in the 66th minute . The captain stepped up again , Chhetri scored a 30 yard stunner from outside the box with his right foot . Few minutes later Bengaluru side extended their lead through Juan Antonio as he headed home the 3rd goal from a typical Eugenson Lyngdoh’s freekick. JDT put their bodies forward to make a come back but the home teams defense stood as rock. All the attacks by the away team was knocked off by the Bangaluru defense.Referee signaled the end of the match after a tough 90 minutes and the stadium erupted.
A Historic achievement , Bengaluru FC has made it to the finals of AFC cup, Proud moment for Indian football .The Iraqi Air force Club awaits them in the finals.Surely the newbie of Indian football made us proud.
Boca Juniors Football School India (BJFSI), the premier football training academy in Bangalore has confirmed their participation in the inaugural edition of AIFF Under 15 I-League. This participation comes as a consequent of successful completion by Boca Juniors Football School India of the AIFF Academy Certification Program introduced earlier during the year.
BJFSI will be participating in the Under 15 I-League under Rest of India Group and the first round of matches likely to be scheduled during January 2016.
“We are delighted to achieve this milestone through our organised approach and training framework under professional and qualified coaches. This will be fantastic platform for the boys to get exposed to competitive football environment in India. We applaud AIFF on their initiative to launch Under 15 Youth League “said Petros Sideris, Technical Director, BJFSI
WIM Cup held in memory of LATE Shri Wahengbam Indramani Singh concluded on February 1st. The tournament was held on a knock-out basis and sixteen teams were in fray.
Kings FC were crowned champions of the tournament and FC Kanglasha were the runners up. Kambou of WIMFA was declared the best player of the tournament.
In the memory of LATE SHRI WAHENGBAM INDRAMANI SINGH, “SECOND WIM CUP 2014” (SECOND WAHENGBAM INDRAMANI MEMORIAL CUP 2014 ), a football tournament would be held on 1st February’ 2015 as a tribute to the football lovers.
The tournament would be held on a knock-out basis in all the rounds and sixteen teams would be vying for the trophy.
KSFA Announced the 20 members squad for the 69th Santosh Trophy Championship. Karnataka will play the South-Zone matches at MSDA stadium in Manjeri, Kerala. Veteran Xavier Vijayakumar is leading the team.
Team :
GKs : SMD Razak, MP Thomas
Defs : KB Nikhil Das, Prem Kumar, B V Chetan Kumar (VC), Vivekananda, R. Vijay
Mid : Xavier Vijaya Kumar (C), Prakash. B, R. Manivannan, M. Lokesh, P.A Anup Theres Raj, M. Sunil Kumar, Deepan P, Shahzad K.I
Forward: K Gopi, K Kaviarasan, P Pradeep Kumar, V Vinoth Kumar, Vinu K Varghese
SAP Labs India today announced that for Bengaluru Football Club (BFC), it has created a state of the art, innovative mobile application to unify the club’s growing fan base. Developed ahead of BFC’s second campaign in the I-League which kicks off on January, 17, 2015, the multi-featured application allows for superior fan engagement through social activities and communities, match day experience sharing, group discounts, news and updates, and real time visualization.
Technology today provides sports organizations with the opportunity to connect with fans by transforming interactions through online channels, mobile, and social media. BFC is a good example of this, having grown its following with dedicated fan pages and communities on social networks like Facebook and Twitter with over 61,000 likes and 7500 followers, respectively.
“As a club based in India’s technology capital and aiming to be the best in Asia, we are constantly researching new and emerging ways to provide our fans with opportunities to connect with Bengaluru FC. Partnering with SAP, which provides innovative software solutions, will only deepen the connect and engagement that we wish to have with our growing fan-base.” said Mustafa Ghouse, COO of Bengaluru FC.
With the adoption of an easily extensible and scalable architecture, users of the BFC customized mobile application will have intuitive card based content staging and easy navigation through and within sections. Fans also receive context relevant news and updates. Some unique features of the app include ‘Swarm’, a real time visualization of how fans converge towards the stadium or other hangouts, including Arbor Brewing Company, the home pub for the season; and ‘Share-a-Ride’ which allows fans to carpool to the stadium on game day.
“SAP is transforming the sports and entertainment industry across the world through new technologies and platforms. In this instance, our technology is enabling Bengaluru FC to deliver a consistent and engaging fan experience.” said Dilipkumar Khandelwal, MD, SAP Labs India, EVP & Head of Suite Engineering, Products and Innovation.
Globally, a growing number of sports leagues, teams, and stadiums work with SAP to develop integrated business management solutions that help them run their businesses. The SAP for Sports & Entertainment solution portfolio helps the industry run better, from fans to athletes to teams and league. In the field of sports, SAP has worked with the German Football Association, The International Cricket Council (ICC), TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, the Women’s Tennis Association, the National Football League(NFL), the National Basketball Association (NBA), and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) among others.
