Kerala Blasters FC Reserves and Academy: Difference between revisions

| manager = [[T. G Purushothaman]] (Reserves and U-18)<br />

On 20 February 2018, it was announced by the [[All India Football Federation]], the organising body for [[Football in India|Indian football]], that the [[Kerala Blasters FC|Kerala Blasters]] along with six other [[Indian Super League]] sides would field a reserve team in the [[I-League 2nd Division]], India's third division football league.<ref name="IL">{{cite news|title=Eighteen Teams Will Contest In Second Division League 2017-18|url=http://i-league.org/interviews-and-features/eighteen-teams-will-contest-in-second-division-league-2017-18/|access-date=11 March 2018|work=I-League|date=20 February 2018}}</ref>

The first ever match competitive match for the reserves were against [[Ozone F.C.|Ozone F.C]] on 16 March 2018 in which they suffered a defeat.<ref>{{Cite web|title=I-League 2nd Division 2018 - Results, fixtures, tables and stats - Global Sports Archive|url=https://globalsportsarchive.com/competition/soccer/i-league-2nd-division-2018/preliminary-round/20367/|access-date=2020-06-22|website=globalsportsarchive.com}}</ref> But they managed to become the table toppers of Group B by winning seven games from ten matches.<ref>{{Cite web|title='Credit where it is due' - Kerala Blasters are the only ISL side to top I-League 2nd division group {{!}} Goal.com|url=https://www.goal.com/en-in/news/i-league-2nd-division-kerala-blasters/1cvnrs939wj9f1h2w8rztqs64a|access-date=2020-06-27|website=www.goal.com}}</ref> However as per the rules, reserve teams of the clubs were not eligible for advancing into the final round. In the same year itself, the side also started to participate in the [[Kerala Premier League]], which is the top division league for the clubs from [[Kerala]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Off-field issues bedevilling Kerala Premier League {{!}} Goal.com|url=https://www.goal.com/en-in/news/kerala-premier-league-blasters-gokula/1ufnrra62sev413fhzi3i0ex0e|access-date=2020-06-27|website=www.goal.com}}</ref> During their first season in KPL, they finished the group stage in third place behind [[Sports Academy Tirur]] by one point thus missing the play-offs.

In [[2018–19 2nd Division League|2018-19]] ,they finished the [[I-League 2nd Division]] in third place of the group.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Hero 2nd Division 2019 - Results, fixtures, tables and stats - Global Sports Archive|url=https://globalsportsarchive.com/competition/soccer/hero-2nd-division-2019/regular-season/27470/|access-date=2020-06-22|website=globalsportsarchive.com}}</ref> In [[Kerala Premier League|KPL]] they became the semi finalists during the  [[2018–19 Kerala Premier League|2018-19]] season.

They won the [[2019–20 Kerala Premier League|2019-2020]] season of Kerala Premier League after defeating the reserve side of their rivals [[Gokulam Kerala F.C.|Gokulam Kerala FC]] in a Penalty shootout.<ref>{{Cite web|title=KPL: Blasters edge Gokulam to emerge champs|url=https://www.onmanorama.com/sports/football/2020/03/07/kpl-kerala-blasters-beat-gokulam-kerala-become-champions.html|access-date=2020-06-22|website=OnManorama|language=en}}</ref> In the [[I-League 2nd Division]], they finished the season in fifth place.

In January 2021, the club appointed [[T. G Purushothaman]] as their new head coach of the reserve side, replacing Renjith TA and [[Shameel Chembakath (Association football manager)|Shameel Chembakath]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-01-10|title=Kerala Blasters appoint TG Purushothaman as reserves team head coach|url=https://khelnow.com/football/isl-2020-21-kerala-blasters-tg-purushothaman-reserves-team-coach/|access-date=2021-01-10|website=Khel Now|language=en-US}}</ref>

===Current team squad===

{{updated|18 April 2021}}<ref>{{cite web|title =Squad|url=http://i-league.org/second-division-league/results-fixtures-2nd-division/|work=I-league.org}}</ref>

|[[2017–18 I-League 2nd Division|2017-18]]

|{{flagicon|IND}}[[Shaiborlang Kharpan]]

|[[2018-19 I-League 2nd Division|2018-19]]

|{{flagicon|IND}}Pragyan Sundar Gogoi

|[[2019-20 I-League 2nd Division|2019-20]]

|{{flagicon|IND}}[[Ronaldo Oliveira]]

|[[2017–18 Kerala Premier League|2017-18]]

|{{flagicon|IND}}[[Shaiborlang Kharpan]]

|[[2018-19 Kerala Premier League|2018-19]]

|{{flagicon|IND}}[[Jithin M S]]

|[[2019-20 Kerala Premier League|2019-20]]

|{{flagicon|IND}}[[Shaiborlang Kharpan]]

|[[2020-21 Kerala Premier League|2020-21]]

|{{flagicon|IND}}Nihal Sudheesh <br>{{flagicon|IND}}Sreekkuttan V.S

=== Kit manufacturers and Shirt sponsors ===

The Kerala Blasters youth system known as '''KBFC Young Blasters''' currently consists of 3 teams from 3 different age groups, the Under-18, Under-15 and Under-13.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kerala Blasters Football Club|url=https://www.the-aiff.com/club/8982?type=academy|access-date=2020-06-03|website=www.the-aiff.com}}</ref> The U-18 team participates in the [[Elite League (India)|Elite league]] which is the top division of [[Youth sports|youth]] football in [[India]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kerala Blasters Football Club|url=https://www.the-aiff.com/club/8982?type=academy|access-date=2020-06-03|website=www.the-aiff.com}}</ref> The U-15 participates in the [[Elite League (India)|Hero Juniors League]] and the Junior most team, the U-13 plays at the [[Elite League (India)|Hero Sub-Juniors League]] respectively. The U-15 side also participates in the '''Kerala U-15 Academy League''', a regional youth league. The young talents from the Under-18 team playing in the [[Elite League (India)|Elite League]] are promoted into the reserve team based on their performance.

In association with the [[Kerala Football Association]], the Kerala Blasters announced the opening of 25 football schools throughout Kerala.<ref name="Schools">{{cite news|last1=Rayan|first1=Stan|date=1 July 2017|title=KBFC to start 25 football schools|work=The Hindu|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-sports/kbfc-to-start-25-football-schools/article19191697.ece|access-date=1 April 2018}}</ref> In addition to the schools, the club announced that they would also hold weekend grassroots leagues for the children of under-10 to under-16 and the start of a residential academy in the future.<ref name="Schools" /> The first Kerala Blasters Football School was inaugurated on 11 August 2015 at Dr. Ambedkar Stadium Kochi after 15 months which the club was founded.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Bhattacharya|first=S.|date=2015-07-27|title=Blasters hoping to kick-off a grassroots revolution in Kerala|url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/blasters-hoping-to-kick-off-a-grassroots-revolution-in-kerala|access-date=2020-06-03|website=www.sportskeeda.com|language=en-us}}</ref> Later, three more schools were opened in [[Thiruvananthapuram]], [[Kozhikode]] and [[Thrissur]] as a part of the club's new youth academy system. Former Irish International [[Terry Phelan]] was appointed as the head of the grassroots.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Indian Super League: Kerala Blasters Football Schools inaugurated in Kochi {{!}} Goal.com|url=https://www.goal.com/en-india/news/7083/isl/2015/07/24/13842222/kerala-blasters-football-schools-inaugurated-in-kochi|access-date=2020-05-31|website=www.goal.com}}</ref> In 2017, [[Thangboi Singto]] was appointed as the technical director of the youth.<ref name="arunfoot.com">{{Cite web|date=2017-06-25|title=Thangboi Singto signs for Kerala Blasters as Assistant Coach & Technical Director for Youth!|url=http://www.arunfoot.com/thangboi-singto-signs-kerala-blasters-assistant-coach-technical-director-youth/|access-date=2020-06-03|website=Arunava about Football|language=en-GB}}</ref> In the same year itself, their U-18 and U-15 teams began to participate in the [[Elite League (India)|Elite League]] and [[Elite League (India)|Juniors League]] respectively. The U-18 team became the runners up of the [[2017–18 Youth League U18|2017–18 Youth League]] in their first ever appearance while the U-15 side managed to reach the play offs. In 2018, the U-13 side started to participate in the [[Elite League (India)|Sub-Juniors League]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kerala Blasters And Its Exemplary Youth System {{!}} IFTWC - Indian Football Team For World Cup|url=https://iftwc.com/kerala-blasters-and-its-exemplary-youth-system/|access-date=2021-01-16|language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2019, Blasters rejuvenated their youth system. They launched the '''KB Young Blasters''' and appointed [[Mario Marinică]] as the technical director of the youth.<ref name="indiansuperleague.com">{{Cite web|title=KBFC Young Blasters announces Mario Marinica as Technical Director|url=https://www.indiansuperleague.com/press-releases/kbfc-young-blasters-announces-mario-marinica-as-technical-director|access-date=2020-06-03|website=Indian Super League|language=en}}</ref> As a part of this, a residential academy was also launched for the first time in club's history.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Spurred by new residential academy, Kerala Blasters gear-up for Hero Junior League semifinal {{!}} Hero I-League|url=https://i-league.org/spurred-by-new-residential-academy-kerala-blasters-gear-up-for-hero-junior-league-semifinal/|access-date=2020-06-06|language=en-US}}</ref> The Blasters also announced that they will launch India's first ever [[Goalkeeper (association football)|goalkeeping]] academy in Kochi headed by [[John Burridge]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Jul 8|first=Rayson Tennyson {{!}} TNN {{!}}|last2=2019|last3=Ist|first3=20:48|title=Kerala Blasters to start India's first goalkeeping academy {{!}} Football News - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/kerala-blasters-to-start-indias-first-goalkeeping-academy/articleshow/70132005.cms|access-date=2020-06-06|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=ISL: Kerala Blasters' John Burridge out to repeat his legacy in Indian football {{!}} Goal.com|url=https://www.goal.com/en-in/news/isl-kerala-blasters-john-burridge-goalkeeping/e36dgf4rt8ad1bu19nv6iyz15|access-date=2020-06-06|website=www.goal.com}}</ref> As a part of KB Young Blasters, the club also started the ''Young Ambassador Program'' in September 2020. It focus on the promising youngsters from the club’s Young Blasters centers across Kerala to make them oriented, trained and equipped with adequate skill and technique, to be the face and voice of the club in the future.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-09-11|title=Kerala Blasters launch Young Ambassador Program for young diplomats|url=https://khelnow.com/football/kerala-blasters-launch-young-ambassador-program/|access-date=2020-09-12|website=Khel Now|language=en-US}}</ref>  

On 16 October 2020, the Blasters announced a five-year partnership agreement with "Sporthood", which is a network of sports centres. The Young Blasters program is now termed as “Young Blasters – Sporthood Academy”, that imparts a Kerala Blasters verified performance training curriculum to kids, reviewed and audited by the club's experts from time to time.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-10-17|title=Kerala Blasters join hands with Sporthood for grassroots and youth development|url=https://khelnow.com/football/kerala-blasters-partnership-sporthood/|access-date=2020-10-18|website=Khel Now|language=en-US}}</ref> On 16 January  2021, the club announced the association of "FC Imphal City", the first academy from Manipur to play in the Hero Indian Elite League with the Young Blasters – Sporthood Academy.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-01-16|title=Young Blasters-Sporthood Academy Join Hands With Fc Imphal City|url=https://keralablastersfc.in/young-blasters-sporthood-academy-join-hands-with-fc-imphal-city/|access-date=2021-01-16|website=Kerala Blasters FC|language=en-US}}</ref> This was the first time that the Blasters expanded their grassroot system outside of Kerala.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-01-16|title=YOUNG BLASTERS-SPORTHOOD ACADEMY JOIN HANDS WITH FC IMPHAL CITY - Malayalam MyKhel|url=http://malayalam.mykhel.com/football/young-blasters-sporthood-academy-join-hands-with-fc-imphal-city-028682.html|access-date=2021-01-16|website=malayalam.mykhel.com|language=ml}}</ref> In February 2021, the club's senior team assistant manager Tomasz Tchórz took over as the Technical advisor/director role at the Blasters.

===Squads===

Source: <ref>{{Cite web|title=Kerala Blasters Football Club|url=https://www.the-aiff.com/club/players/8982/3|access-date=2020-06-03|website=www.the-aiff.com}}</ref>

Source: <ref>{{Cite web|title=Kerala Blasters Football Club|url=https://www.the-aiff.com/club/players/8982/4|access-date=2020-06-03|website=www.the-aiff.com}}</ref>

Source: <ref>{{Cite web|title=Kerala Blasters Football Club|url=https://www.the-aiff.com/club/players/8982/5|access-date=2020-06-03|website=www.the-aiff.com}}</ref>

|{{flagicon|IND}} [[T. G Purushothaman]]

|{{flagicon|}} Vacant

|<ref name="Youth Development">{{Cite web|title=Kerala Blasters (Twitter account)|url=https://twitter.com/KeralaBlasters/status/1358366066427088897|website=twitter.com|access-date=2021-02-07|archive-date=2021-02-07|archive-url=http://archive.today/2021.02.07-122213/https://twitter.com/KeralaBlasters/status/1358366066427088897|url-status=live}}</ref>

|<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kerala Blasters to launch first-of-its-kind Goalkeeping Academy in Kochi|url=https://www.indiansuperleague.com/news/kerala-blasters-to-launch-first-of-its-kind-goalkeeping-academy-in-kochi|access-date=2020-06-06|website=Indian Super League|language=en}}</ref>

:{{Gold1}} '''Winners (1)''': [[2019-20 Kerala Premier League|2019-20]]

: {{sica}} '''Runners-up (1)''': [[2017–18 Youth League U18]]