Author: KBFC-Media

Kerala Blasters Football Club is thrilled to announce the signing of defender Likmabam Rakesh. The highly promising left-back puts pen to paper on a 3-year contract that will see him don the Blasters outfit until 2027.

The 21-year-old, born in Manipur, began his professional career with NEROCA FC. In 2018, he joined the Bengaluru FC Academy and went on to represent their U16, U18, and Reserve teams in various age-group tournaments, including the prestigious Reliance Foundation Development League. With his consistency, maturity and promise on display throughout his youth career, it was not long before NEROCA FC came calling, as he returned to the Club where he started his professional career with in 2022.

Since, Rakesh has made over 40 appearances for Neroca FC in the I-League, Durand Cup, and Super Cup Qualifiers. While the majority of his performances have come in his usual left-back position, the young defender can even slot in as a center-back.

Karolis Skinkys, Sporting Director said :

“We are delighted to welcome Likmabam Rakesh to Kerala Blasters. This season he has shown a lot of potentials, allowing us to believe that he can be a valuable player for us in the future. At this moment Rakesh and our attention is on finding the best way forward for his development.”

The talented left-back has increasingly earned a reputation for his lung-busting runs up and down the flank, determination, and spirit, all of which fans can look forward to seeing in action when the new season kicks off.

Likmabam Rakesh becomes the Club’s second signing of the summer, following goalkeeper Som Kumar who was announced last week.

As the 2024-25 season approaches, Kerala Blasters FC is set to begin preseason preparations in Thailand. The team will set up camp in Chonburi, Thailand, from July 3rd to July 22nd.

The camp will mark the first opportunity for newly appointed Head Coach, Mikael Stahre, to take charge of the squad. Players will be reporting directly to the Pattana Sports Complex, where they will spend three weeks to prepare for the upcoming season.

The three-week camp will feature at least three friendly matches, against top-division Thai Football Clubs. It will provide a fantastic opportunity for Coach Mikael and his coaching staff to understand, assess, and work with the squad, ahead of the Club’s participation in the 133rd Durand Cup that is set to commence on July 26.

Sporting Director, Karolis Skinkys said:

“I’m very happy that we have such an opportunity to start preseason in a training camp abroad. This will be useful for many reasons like team building, quality training conditions, and friendly matches. This is very important for new coaching staff as well.”

Apart from the new signings joining the Club in the summer, new faces from the Academy are expected to join the squad in Thailand, as has been the practice and philosophy of the Club. The complete travelling squad will be announced in due course.

While friendly matches will be conducted behind closed-doors, the Club is actively exploring options to bring the action closer to its fans. Fans are encouraged to stay connected through all social media channels for the latest updates on activities during preseason.

The Club will fly directly to its group venue following preparations in Thailand to kick-off their competitive calendar with the 133rd Durand Cup.

10 June 2024 – Kerala Blasters FC are delighted to announce the signing of young Indian goalkeeper Som Kumar. The 19-year-old puts pen-to-paper on a 4-year contract until 2028.

Born in Bengaluru, Som Kumar began his football journey at a young age. His potential was quickly recognized, leading to stints at Boca Juniors Academy and BYFL Academy. Som’s European adventure started in 2020 with NK Bravo in Slovenia, where he showcased his talents in an underage summer tournament in Italy, most notably against Bologna U17 where he came to prominence with a dynamic performance in front the nets.

Som’s next move was a loan spell at NextGen Liga Club NK Krka, where he helped the U17 team secure a third place in the league. His consistent performances earned him spots in both NK Bravo and NK Krka’s U19 teams, eventually leading to his contract with Slovenian first-division side NK Olimpija Ljubljana, in February 2023. Kumar’s abilities and determination to succeed soon earned him a regular starting role at the club, culminating in his selection for the UEFA European Under-19 Championship squad.

Som’s young international career has been equally impressive. A former member of India’s U16 and U17 teams, he made significant contributions during the India U16 team’s tour to the UAE in 2021. He then played a crucial role in the India U20 team’s success at the 2022 SAFF U-20 Championship in Odisha, where his performance in the semi-final against the Maldives and the final against Bangladesh earned him the Best Goalkeeper award for the tournament.

In 2023, Kumar was part of the squad for the AFC U-20 Asian Cup qualifiers in Kuwait and later contributed to India’s victorious campaign at the 2023 SAFF U-19 Championship in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Sporting Director Karolis Skinkys said:

“”Without intention to create any pressure on him, but I can positively say that Som is one of highest potential players in his generation. I’m happy he believed in the Kerala Blasters project and decided to come back from abroad. Som has right basics of football, correct mindset and he’s very mature for his age. All these points makes me believe that he can learn every day and have a bright future in KBFC.”

Som Kumar said :

“I am excited to join Kerala Blasters and look forward to contributing to the team. This is a great opportunity for me to grow as a player and I am eager to give my best for the club and its passionate fans.”

With Som’s arrival, the club aims to build a robust goalkeeping squad capable of competing through the rigours of the entire season. We wish him all the best and hope that he contributes towards the success of the club in the upcoming season.

Som Kumar becomes the first signing of the Club this summer. The Blasters previously announced contract extensions of defender Naocha Singh and Club captain Adrian Luna.

Som, despite his young age, brings with him a wealth of experience from both domestic and international youth competitions. His signing is expected to further strengthen the team’s goalkeeping unit, which has progressed well under the guidance of Goalkeeping Coach Slaven Progovecki over the last few seasons.

Kerala Blasters Football Club is delighted to announce the appointment of Mikael Stahre as the Club’s new Head Coach. Stahre brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record to the team, marking an exciting new chapter for the Blasters. The 48-year-old joins on a two-year contract that will keep him at the helm of Kerala Blasters FC until 2026.

With over two decades of coaching experience, Mikael Stahre has built a reputation for his tactical acumen and leadership qualities. His coaching career has spanned multiple leagues and countries. Throughout his career, Stahre has managed over 400 matches with prominent teams such as AIK (Sweden), Panionios (Greece), IFK Göteborg (Sweden), Dalian Yifang (China), BK Häcken (Sweden), San Jose Earthquakes (USA), Sarpsborg 08 (Norway), and Uthai Thani (Thailand).

Stahre’s most notable achievements include leading AIK to the Swedish Allsvenskan title (league title), Svenska Cupen (cup), and Supercupen (cup), and guiding IFK Göteborg to the Svenska Cupen (cup).

Mikael Stahre, Head Coach, said:

“After some really inspiring & positive discussions with the management, I’m delighted to be joining Kerala Blasters – a fantastic privilege!

I am very proud to be able to continue my coaching career in Asia, and to explore my 3rd country on this beautiful continent.

I look forward to coming to India soon and meeting everyone. Let’s do some great things together. Go blasters!”

Karolis Skinkys, Sporting Director, said:

“We followed our process while recruiting the new coach. It was a long marathon of many interviews and discussions to decide who fit the role best.

Mikael is an excellent candidate, full of hunger and motivation, who ticked all the boxes of what we were looking for in our coach. He possesses immense experience and strong leadership. I’m happy to have Mikael on board and I look forward to working together.”

Having started his head coaching career with Vasby United, Stahre took charge at AIK in 2008. Following a Swedish League Title and Swedish Cup double in 2009, he joined Greek first-division side Panionos in 2010. After a brief stint in Greece, he returned to Sweden to coach IFK Göteborg, eventually guiding them to a Swedish Cup in 2014. Stahre then led the recently relegated Dalian Yifeng, in China, to a third-place finish in the Chinese second division, narrowly missing out on a top-flight promotion. He finished his spell in China with a 26-13-9 record before returning to Sweden once again in 2016, this time to coach BK Hacken. In his lone season at Hacken, he elevated the team from 10th place to a record top-four finish, ending the season with a 14-6-10 record. Stahre then had spells in USA, Norway, Sweden and Thailand.

In addition to his spells as a head coach, Stahre boasts an additional 14 years in youth coaching, with Gröndals, Hammarby and AIK from 1990-2005. He led the AIK Under-19 team to a national title in 2004.

Stahre’s appointment marks a new chapter for Kerala Blasters FC, as becomes the first Swede to ever manage an ISL club. The Club is confident that his leadership will inspire the team to perform at their best and compete for silverware in the seasons to come.

The new coach is expected to link-up with the team at the start of preseason.

Kerala Blasters FC is thrilled to announce that it has extended the stay of Club captain and the Club’s most capped foreign player, Adrián Luna, until 2027. This extension underscores Luna’s invaluable contributions and reaffirms his integral role in the squad’s future.

Since joining Kerala Blasters FC, Adrián Luna has consistently demonstrated exceptional skill, leadership and dedication both on and off the field. His remarkable performances have not only earned him the admiration of fans, but have also solidified his status as a key player in the Indian Super League.

The decision to extend Luna’s contract reflects the club’s commitment to building a strong and stable team foundation. With Luna’s contract extension, the club is confident he will play a significant role in helping Kerala Blasters FC further its ambitions in the league.

Kerala Blasters FC looks forward to many more memorable moments with Adrián Luna and is confident that his presence will help contribute to the success to the club.

Kerala Blasters FC is delighted to announce the extension of full-back Naocha Singh’s contract, committing him to the club until 2025.

Arriving on loan from Mumbai City FC last season, Naocha Singh made a significant impact, featuring in 21 matches across various tournaments including the Indian Super League, Kalinga Super Cup, and the Durand Cup.

His performances through the season showcased his prowess in both defensive and offensive roles, solidifying his position as a key asset for the team.

The club expresses confidence in Naocha’s ability to continue contributing to its success in the upcoming season. We extend our warmest wishes to Naocha Singh and look forward to witnessing his continued excellence on the field.