Thiruvananthapuram – Football News India

Kovalam FC on a fine run in the U-15 Youth League

January 28, 2016 footballnewsindia Leave a comment

Kovalam FC, the sole participant from Kerala in the ongoing U-15 Youth League is on a fine run. With one more match to go, Kovalam is currently the toppers of Group F : Rest of India II.

After going down to Fateh Hyderabad 2-1 in a closely contested opening match, Kovalam FC came back strongly to defeat Boca Juniors Football academy from Bangalore 7-1 in their second match. From then on there has been no looking back for Kovalam FC. In the subsequent matches, Kovalam defeated Mahogany FC 4-1(Chennai) and overcame Ozone FC (Bengaluru) 2-1.

Kovalam FC will play their final match on 30th vs Bengaluru FC. Kovalam will have to at least manage a draw from their last match, if they have to maintain their chances to qualify for the final round of the U-15 league. Two teams from each group would qualify to the next stage where they would be divided into two groups. Subsequently Top two teams will get the nod to semi-finals and eventual final will decide the maiden winner of U-15 Youth League.

Kovalam FC’s story is a typical rags to riches one. After a modest beginning in 2009 with 20 footballers, Kovalam FC has one of the finest grassroots set up in Kerala with over 100 players training with the team now.

Do check out this interview we did with Ebin Rose (former Kerala & I-league player), who is the chief coach and dons the all-in-all role at Kovalam FC:

Interview : Kovalam FC’s Ebin Rose on Grassroots Development and More

Kerala Plans to Conduct the AFC Grassroots Day in a Grand Way

May 14, 2014 footballnewsindia Leave a comment

Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is celebrating the 2nd ‘AFC Grassroots Day’ on the 15 May, 2014 . The purpose and objective of the celebration is to ensure awareness of the necessity of Grassroots activities with a vision for tomorrow with effective foundation of football.

Reports suggest that around 480 kids aged between 6 and 12 will participate in football festivals conducted across 7 centers in Kerala. In Thiruvanthapuram, the festival will be conducted in Kovalam and it is expected that Kovalam FC will be playing a major role in the festival there. Kollam District Football Academy, Alappuzha Santos FA, Unity Soccer in Idukki, Maradu FA in Ernakulam, Nilambur United FC in Malappuram, Wayanad United F.A are the other centers that will be hosting the festival in Kerala.

Update : Two more venues will be hosting the AFC Grassroots day today in Kerala. In kozhikode, the Calicut Coaches Club along with KDFA will be conducting a football festival. It also reported that a similar fest will take place in Pathanamthitta too.

Shashi Tharoor Inaugurates Kerala’s Santosh Trophy Camp

December 25, 2013 footballnewsindia Leave a comment

Shashi Tharoor has officially inaugurated Kerala’s Santosh Trophy camp. Marking the occasion, Tharoor handed over a ball to the chief coach A.M Sreedharan and Satheevan Balan and flowers to the players that are currently in the camp.

Shashi Tharoor urged the players to better off last years campaign in which Kerala ended up as runners-up in the championship.

Currently there are 25 players in the camp of the 37 that are selected. Rest of the players will join the camp when the State Club football Championship that is taking place in Meenangadi, Wayanad ends.

In Santosh Trophy which is played in zonal basis this time around, Kerala’s first match is against Andhra Pradesh in Chennai on January 26th.

The inaugural function that took place in LNCPE, Thiruvananthapuram was attended Kerala Football Association president K.M.A Mather, SAI Director General Gigi Thomson, and various other dignitaries

Kerala – 50th Inter-District Football Tournament Starts

November 20, 2013 footballnewsindia Leave a comment

The 50th Inter-District Football Tournament commenced in Wayanad on the 24th of November.

Matches will be played in the Arappetta ground (which indeed is a picturesque one! ).

Defending champion Malappuram and last year’s runner-up Kasaragod have been given a direct entry into the quarterfinals. Malappuram will play the winners from the Kannur vs Pathanamthitta match and Kasaragod will take on the winners from the Thirvananthapuram vs Alappuzha match.

Fixture :

[matches league_id=9 match_day=1]

[matches league_id=9 match_day=2]

[matches league_id=9 match_day=3]

[matches league_id=9 match_day=4]

[matches league_id=9 match_day=5]

In Pictures – AFC A License Course, Thiruvananthapuram

October 20, 2013 footballnewsindia Leave a comment

As we reported earlier, AIFF Technical Director Rob Baan is currently conducting the AFC A license Certificate Course in Thiruvanathapuram. 25 coaches including one from Japan is attending the course. Here are few pics from Thiruvananthapuram.