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KERALA BLASTERS EXTEND CONTRACT OF STRIKER DIMITRIOS DIAMANTAKOS UNTIL 2024

Posted on by KBFC-Media

Kerala Blasters is pleased to announce that Dimitrios Diamantakos has signed a new contract that will extend his stay at the club until 2024.

The Greek striker who led the Kerala Blasters attack last season will once again be at the helm of the forward charge at Kerala Blasters FC, looking to add to the tally of 12 goals he mustered in 24 appearances in both the Hero Indian Super League 2022-23 and Hero Super Cup 2023.

The 30-year-old seasoned campaigner hailing from Piraeus, Greece has been a journeyman traveler in the world of football, having played in leagues across Greece, Germany, Croatia & Israel before finally embarking on a stint in India with Kerala Blasters FC in 2022-23 season.

Having started his career at Greek club Atromitos Piraeus, Diamantakos quickly moved through to the youth team system of the popular Greek Club Olympiacos in 2009. Since then till the period of 2013, Diamantakos made several appearances for other Greek clubs as a loaned player, with his breakout season coming with football club Ergotelis where he scored 10 goals in 27 appearances.

Diamantakos would follow this season by playing out the 2014-15 season with Olympiacos in the Super League, while also making his international debut for Greece against Romania during September 2014.

Later on, Dimitrios Diamantakos went on to represent some iconic Bundesliga clubs like Karlsruher SC and VfL Bochum leading to a stint within 2. Bundesliga in the period between 2015 – 2020, eventually heading to Croatian club Hajduk Split on July 2020.

As a professional footballer Dimitrios Diamantakos brings with him, a vast amount of experience across different football cultures along with an impressive track record in terms of beating the opposition defense.

Commenting on the extension, Karolis Skinkys, Kerala Blasters Sporting Director, said:
“Dimitrios has been a total team player for us at Kerala Blasters, last season whenever the team needed a moment of inspiration, he always came through for us, his experience and knowledge about the game helps lift the team, especially the young talents in the team who learn from his lead. I wish Dimitrios would continue to build on what he did for the club, during the last season!”

He further added, “As a club, we believe in backing players who perform and deliver in roles assigned to them. Therefore I am very happy to extend Dimitrios’ contract with the club and wish him all the best for the upcoming season.”

Dimitrios Diamantakos said:
” India and Kerala Blasters was a great and unique experience for me, any success that I had during the last season was only possible due to great support from my teammates, coaching staff, and most importantly the Kerala Blasters management. So extending my contract with the Kerala Blasters family was a pretty instant decision for me, I now look forward to comeback next season and perform for the team and our lovely fans.”

The Club would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Dimitrios on his contract extension and wishes him all the best for the next season. We hope to see him continue to grow in his role as a striker and provide the club with the competitive edge required to achieve success in the upcoming season.

KERALA BLASTERS ASSISTANT COACH ISHFAQ AHMED TO MOVE ON FROM HIS ROLE AS ASSISTANT COACH

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With our 2022-23 season officially drawing to a close, we at Kerala Blasters prepare to bid goodbye to our long-time associate and current assistant coach Ishfaq Ahmed as his contract with us nears its completion this summer.

Ishfaq Ahmed has been a constant both as a player and as a coach in the evolution of Kerala Blasters, since the very inception of the club. Having carved out a name for himself, as a great player in the country, by playing for some of the most notable Indian clubs, he joined Kerala Blasters in 2014. Soon after, his desire to impart the years of acquired football knowledge led him into the pathway of coaching.

In 2015, Ishfaq Ahmed started his coaching journey with us as a player-assistant. However, he would only return to the club in 2019 to take over the responsibilities of a full time assistant coach.

Ishfaq leaves with our sincerest thanks for his tireless efforts as Assistant Coach over the last 4 years. His place in the club’s history will always be special and he will forever be welcome back at Kerala Blasters as part of the Kerala Blasters family.

On behalf of the entire Kerala Blasters family, we wish Ishfaq all the very best in all his future endeavours.

The announcement of our new assistant coach will be made in due course.

MATCH DAY PREVIEW : Bengaluru fc V KBFC 

Posted on by KBFC-Media

TEAM NEWS

The encore game of Indian football in recent times is upon us, Kerala Blasters FC takes on Bengaluru FC in a pivotal clash at Kozhikode’s EMS Stadium. Both teams will be playing for both bragging rights and a chance of making it through to semi-finals, with it looking like a three way race in which Sreenidi Deccan is also in the running.

Both teams come into the game with a few key players with yellow cards next to their names, with Dimitrios Diamantakos, Jeakson Singh and Ayush Adhikari from KBFC needing to be on the side of caution, whereas Rohit Kumar, Sandesh Jhinghan and Parag Shrivas having the added send off threat coming into the game.

QUICK RUNDOWN

Both the Blues and KBFC come into this game with contrasting results, whereas KBFC started their Hero Super Cup campaign with an impressive victory (3-1) against RoundGlass Punjab FC but then ended up dropping 3 points against Sreenidi Deccan in their very next game.

Bengaluru FC on the other side started their campaign with a draw (1-1) against Sreenidi Deccan but came back strongly with a resounding victory (2-0) against RoundGlass Punjab FC, setting up a Super Sunday with three teams vying for the semi-final slot.

KEY PLAYERS TO WATCHOUT

Dimitrios Diamantakos remains KBFC’ strongest scoring force going into this game, a solid performance from him will definitely lead the charge for Blasters in the upcoming game, the added responsibility of the captain’s armband should also motivate him to lead from the front.

Marko Lešković the towering Croatian will be pivotal in guarding the KBFC defenses, his presence at the backend of the formation is always reassuring for his side.

Jeakson Singh, the national team midfielder could have decisive say in making the plays to attack the opponent’s goal, an impressive game for him could set the tone for the whole team.

WHERE TO WATCH

The live streaming of Bengaluru FC vs Kerala Blasters FC will be available on Fancode, whereas Sony Sports 2 will be show the game live on television. The live updates of the game will be made available through Club’s official Twitter account also.

MATCH DAY PREVIEW : RoundGlass Punjab FC V KBFC 

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TEAM NEWS

Kerala Blasters will take on RoundGlass Punjab FC for the first time since the later got promoted as an ISL team, at Kozhikode’s EMS Stadium. Both teams will be playing their first game of the campaign and would like to kick-start their tournament with a victory to their name.

KBFC squad for the tournament despite missing a few key players, remains a good mix of young homegrown talent along with experienced campaigners both domestic and foreign, which gives KBFC a mix of players to put an exciting combination on the pitch.

RoundGlass Punjab being the newest entrants within the ISL mix, would be keen to measure themselves against ISL teams during the Hero Super Cup. Players like Kiran Kumar Limbu, Juan Mera and Luka Majcen are most likely to lead the charge for their team.

QUICK RUNDOWN

Despite KBFC not playing their games on their home ground at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kochi. Kozhikode’s EMS Stadium is almost a second home for the team, with a large, vibrant football loving crowd expected to show up in big numbers to support the local team.

KBFC would be managed by Frank Dauwen during the Super Cup and his tactics and player management would add an extra dimension of interest, during the upcoming game.

KEY PLAYERS TO WATCHOUT

Dimitrios Diamantakos, the greek sharpshooter was KBFC’s highest goalscorer in the previous ISL season and his attack and accurate finishing should press RoundGlass Punjab’s defences.

Sandeep Singh grew as a cult hero for KBFC fanbase after his iconic late winner against Odisha FC during a home fixture in the last ISL, he suffered from an injury that later put him out of action through rest of the season, but after having made his recovery, he would be motivated to make a similar impact.

Prabhsukhan Singh Gill the golden glove winner from ISL 2021-22 is a crucial player to KBFC’ success, his dynamic reflexes and ability to improvise makes him a tough opponent for any opposition attack to get through.

WHERE TO WATCH

The live streaming of RoundGlass Punjab FC vs Kerala Blasters will be available on Fancode, whereas Sony Sports 2 will be showing the game live on television.The live updates of the game will be made available through Club’s official Twitter account also.

KERALA BLASTERS FC EXTENDS CONTRACT OF SPORTING DIRECTOR KAROLIS SKINKYS UNTIL 2028

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Kerala Blasters FC announces the extension of Karolis Skinkys as the Sporting Director of the club for 5 more years. The contract is set to keep him in his role, at the helm of all sporting affairs, until 2028.

Karolis, who joined KBFC in 2020 as part of a major strategic restructure by the management, has been instrumental in the growth and success of the club’s sporting activities. In his tenure so far, the club qualified for consecutive playoffs for the first time in club history. The team also finished as runners-up in the Hero ISL 2021-22 season, setting numerous club records along the way.

Under his guidance, the club made significant strides in its youth development activities. Along with improved performances of the youth teams, a great emphasis was placed on creating an effective player development model. With a revised focus on setting a clear pathway into the first team, numerous academy players have been promoted to the first-team over the last few years.

Commenting on the contract extension, Kerala Blasters FC Director Nikhil Bharadwaj said, “Karolis is an integral part of our Blasters family and we are delighted to extend our cooperation for 5 more years. It is an important move for the club as we aim to build on two consecutive playoffs and further our sporting ambitions. This extension also gives us a strong base to continue our work across all sporting functions of the club with consistency. Karolis is a thorough professional and I look forward to a long and fruitful association together!”

“Kerala Blasters means a lot to me. Special place, special club and special people. I would like to thank the ownership & management for trusting me and giving me the opportunity to continue building our organisation. From the moment we started working together, I believe we’ve done a good job but the best is yet to come. We have met several objectives so far and are heading in the right direction to become a consistent contender in the ISL. It is where Kerala Blasters needs to be. My target is clear and simple. I want to win titles with Kerala Blasters and to continue our steady growth across all sporting areas.” said an elated Karolis upon extending his contract.

With this extension, Karolis will continue to drive all aspects of team selection, scouting & recruitment, and youth development, in order to oversee the continuous, effective and efficient build up of the club’s sporting activities.

KBFC Launches Consumer-Focused Initiative, HOUSE OF KBFC

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Welcome to House of KBFC, an independent consumer-focused business set-up spun out of Kerala Blasters Football Club. Tasked with leveraging the club’s expertise and IP, House of KBFC aims to create products that appeal to our beloved fanbase and beyond.

Our Mission

At the heart of House of KBFC is the club’s endeavour to introduce products that embody the richness and diversity of Kerala’s heritage. Our mission is to create, develop, and operate innovative products in the direct-to-consumer segment. Each of our products will take an accelerated route from concept through build, production to launch, and onto future growth. 

Inspiring Innovation

House of KBFC aims to design products that solve consumer problems, disrupt markets, and appeal to consumers and partners way beyond football.

Unique Relationships

Our unique relationship with KBFC means combining KBFC’s knowledge in the form of health, fitness, sports science, and branding with our capability of designing products, we can unlock new value in their expertise and IP, provide greater flexibility for partner collaborations, and take on new consumer challenges in an ever-changing Indian ecosystem.

The House of KBFC will run as an independent entity, giving it the necessary flexibility in terms of its operations and commercial relationships. Success from products launched under the House of KBFC umbrella will be utilized towards the further growth and development of Kerala Blasters Football Club.

MATCH DAY PREVIEW : BFC v KBFC

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TEAM NEWS

Kerala Blasters will square off against Bengaluru FC in a raging South Indian affair at the Sree Kanteerava stadium, Banglore. Both teams will be looking for a win to clinch the important three points on the road to play-offs.

KBFC defeated Chennaiyin FC(2-1) in their last match at home. After being a goal down, the men in yellow showed character to come back to the game and win it. Adrian Luna’s equalizing goal in the first half followed by KP Rahul’s winner in the second half gave Blasters the vital 3 points.

Bengaluru FC is currently on a 5 match winning streak. They haven’t dropped any points since the start of 2023. In their last match, the Blues defeated ATK Mohun Bagan courtesy of goals from Javi Hernandez and Roy Krishna.

QUICK RUNDOWN

This fixture has attracted many spectators since both teams share an intense rivalry. Both sides have met 11 times in the past. Bengaluru have won 6 out of them and KBFC have won 3 matches. The other 2 games ended in stalemate.

The last time when they faced each other at Kochi, Blasters bagged all three points. Chhetri’s spot-kick gave the visitors a lead which was canceled out by Marko Leskovic’s first goal in yellow. Later Dimitrios and Giannou found the nets for KBFC. Javi’s goal in the late part of second half wasn’t enough for them to claim the win.

KEY PLAYERS TO WATCHOUT

Rahul KP scored his second goal of the season against Chennaiyin FC to handover the victory for Blasters. He has been a live wire in the right flank. The local had a couple more chances to score, but he missed them by a whisker.

Prabhsukhan Singh Gill was solid under the bar for Blasters. Even though he conceded a very early goal, he never let his confidence go down. Gill pulled off many difficult yet vital saves against CFC which was crucial in winning the game.

Adrian Luna was awarded with the Hero Of The Match award for his outstanding performance against Chennaiyin FC. The Uruguayan scored the equalizer and provided the assist for Rahul KP’s winner. Apart from the goal contributions, he worked relentlessly on the pitch for the team.

WHERE TO WATCH

The live streaming of the Bengaluru FC vs Kerala Blasters will be available on Disney+ Hotstar, Star Sports Network, Jio TV and Asianet Plus. The updates will be made available through Club’s official Twitter account also.

MATCH DAY PREVIEW : KBFC v CFC

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Kerala Blasters will take on Chennaiyin FC in the much-anticipated Southern rivalry at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kochi. A win will take blasters closer towards their goal of qualifying to the playoffs

Kerala Blasters faced a narrow defeat against East Bengal in the last game(1-0). Cleiton Silva’s solitary goal helped the Red and Gold Brigade to register a win over KBFC for the first time. Blasters is placed third position in the table with 28 points from 16 games.

Chennaiyin FC is coming to this game after a 2-2 draw against Odisha FC. They’re at 8th position with 18 points from 16 games. The Marina Machans still have a faint hope of getting into the play-offs, so they’ll be aiming to get all three points out of this rivalry match.

HEAD TO HEAD

Both teams have faced each other 19 times in ISL. Chennaiyin have a slight upper hand with 6 wins and Blasters have won 5 games. The other 8 games ended in stalemate. Both teams have scored 20+ goals against each other, so a fiery clash awaits us.

In the reverse fixture, both teams played out a 1-1 draw at the Marina Arena, Chennai. Sahal Abdul Samad handed the lead for Blasters which was later canceled out by Vincy Barretto’s goal in the second half.

KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH OUT

Adrian Luna was instrumental in KBFC’s last game against East Bengal. He was pulling the strings from midfield and delivered many passes to the final third, but at the end none of them got converted.

Dimitrios Diamantakos was another stand out performer of the day. He worked hard in the front line of Blasters till the final minute and created many chances, but failed to convert them into a goal.

Karanjit Singh, who had his second start for the men in yellow was solid under the crossbar for KBFC. He denied the opponent many times and was unfortunate to concede Cleiton’s goal at the end.

WHERE TO WATCH

The live streaming of Kerala Blasters vs Chennaiyin FC will be available on Disney+ Hotstar, Jio TV, Star Sports Network and Asianet Plus. The updates will be made available through Club’s twitter account also.

Kerala Blasters FC announces Sanju Samson as Brand Ambassador

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Kerala Blasters FC is proud to announce Indian cricketer Sanju Samson as its new Brand Ambassador. Sanju, a dynamic and prominent cricketer from Kerala and the captain of the Indian Premier League(IPL) side team Rajasthan Royals, will represent the club and its values on and off the field. He is an inspiration to many young sportsmen and women in Kerala, and his appointment as the brand ambassador of Kerala Blasters will further boost his impact.

“Sanju is a national icon, and we are thrilled to welcome him to the KBFC family. We come together in our common endeavor to inspire millions of people in the state to dream bigger through sport. In this ambassadorial role, we look forward to working with Sanju to amplify the club’s grassroots & community initiatives, fan events, and share his passion for the club and game. Our passion & commitment to the growth of the football ecosystem in the state is unwavering and as Kerala’s club, we look forward to giving our 110% to growing every facet of the ecosystem. said Nikhil Bharadwaj, Director, Kerala Blasters FC.

Sanju expressed his excitement at the appointment and said, “I have always been an avid football fan. As my father was a professional football player, football has always been a sport close to my heart. I am honoured to be the brand ambassador of Kerala Blasters FC. The club has done so much since its inception to bring back the glory of football to this state. In the process, they have built and cultivated one of the most loyal fanbases in the country. I can’t wait to watch a match at the Kaloor stadium with the fans and support the team. Sports has always had a great influence on its audience and I look forward to my role as an ambassador of the club to grow the sports ecosystem together”

Kerala Blasters FC and Sanju will work together to promote the sport and engage with fans and supporters in Kerala. The partnership will see a deep integration into all of the club’s grassroots activities, community initiatives and so much more.

KBFC is in the mix for playoffs for a second consecutive year and will be taking on Chennaiyin FC in an all-important fixture on Tuesday. Sanju is expected to make his first appearance as the brand ambassador on February 26, when the club faces Hyderabad FC in its last game of the season

MATCH DAY PREVIEW : EBFC vs KBFC

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TEAM NEWS

Kerala Blasters will be facing East Bengal FC in an away fixture at the Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata. The Blasters will be aiming to assure their spot among the top six by claiming all three points.

Kerala Blasters are approaching this game after a home win against Northeast United FC. Diamantakos’s two quick goals gave KBFC a much-needed bounce-back win. The men in yellow are in the third position in the table with 28 points from 15 games.

East Bengal FC is coming after a defeat against FC Goa. They lost to the Guars for a margin of 4-2 and are placed in 9th position in the table with only 4 wins from 15 games and a tally of 12 points.

QUICK RUNDOWN

Both these sides have met each other 5 times in the league. Blasters have an upper hand with 2 wins and the other three games ended in a stalemate.

In the reverse fixture where both these sides played in the inaugural match of this season, it was KBFC who emerged as the best out of the two. KBFC won 3-1 courtesy of Luna’s opening goal and a brace from Kaliuzhnyi. Alex Lima scored the lone goal for EB.

KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH OUT

Dimitrios Diamantakos is in form as his brace helped KBFC to register an emphatic win against NEUFC. His two goals in the late period of the first half were crucial for the team to gain confidence and march towards victory.

Bryce Miranda, who got his first-ever HeroISL start, had a very good day at the office. He continuously lit up the left flank, produced accurate crosses multiple times, and provided the assist for Dimi’s opening goal.

Adrian Luna never fails to impress us. He was pivotal in Blasters’ midfield and gave an assist for Dimi’s second goal with an accurate lob pass.

WHERE TO WATCH

The live streaming of the match will be available on Disney+ Hotstar, Jio TV, Star Sports Network, and Asianet Plus. The updates will be made available through Club’s official Twitter account also.