KOCHI: In an effort to transform the future of professional football in the state, Super League Kerala (KSL) — the still in the works flagship competition in the state — has joined hands with Andres Iniesta Scouting, an initiative of the football academy promoted by the Spanish football legend.
As per current timelines, SLK is reportedly looking to kick off in August next year
“If we don’t grow from the grassroots, then the Super League is not complete. We have an engagement and we want the entire state to benefit,” SLK chief executive Mathew Joseph said at a media briefing here Wednesday to announce the partnership with Andres Iniesta Scouting.
“We feel Iniesta is one of the world’s greatest footballers, that’s the reason why we chose Iniesta as our scouting partner and as we go forward for the academies which will be set up with Iniesta.”
“The world of football keeps changing, and it is integral for our players to keep pace with this ever-evolving sport. Our endeavour will outline long-term strategies that seek to create a new vision and system of football in Kerala by identifying talent from the grassroots and equipping them for global levels,” said Joseph.
He said SLK will be launched as the state’s official football league in the near future. “It will feature six dynamic franchises competing in a thrilling head-to-head showdown. Scouts specialising in Iniesta’s footballing philosophy will arrive in Kerala and lead a training programme for coaches recruited by the Kerala Football Association,” he said.
“The project will witness extensive scouting by the KFA coaches and their international counterparts to unearth raw potential in the state. Complementing this, open trials are scheduled at Malappuram, Kozhikode, Thrissur and Ernakulam in the first phase of the initiative.” The league intends to eventually inculcate the footballing philosophy of ‘Total Football’, and strives to usher in a new era of football development and foster the true essence of the beautiful game.
Four coaches from the Iniesta Academy are now in Kerala training over 40 coaches and the plan is to increase the number to 70. The newly-trained coaches will scout for talent in nearly 2,500 matches which the Kerala Football Association plans to organise for juniors across five age categories in the next nine months or so and also train the selected players.
The project is positioned to impact nearly 30,000 children in Kerala.
The best will be sent abroad for training at the Iniesta Academy. From Kochi, the Iniesta coaches will be travelling to Kozhikode and Malappuram over the next few days to look at the talent there.
“Today if you look at the ISL, of the 400 players there are only 45 from Kerala. And there are only five full-time players from Kerala. We want to change that,” said Navas Meeran, new president of the Kerala Football Association as he spoke about the ‘Project Gamechanger’ which is expected to impact nearly 30,000 children from the State.
“We are looking at football in totality and how it can influence our economy, it is not necessary that our players get Government jobs, we also want to see how football can help players after their playing career is over.”
