Kerala Blasters men are struggling, but their juniors suffer bigger heartbreak

The Kerala Blasters' season just does not seem to be going right. While their men’s team remains doubtful about qualifying for the ISL playoffs, their developmental team failed to advance from the zonal qualifiers of the Reliance Foundation Development League (RFDL).

The Blasters seniors might argue that they were undone by a superior Mohun Bagan Super Giant, which clinched a 3-0 win in the ISL at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi Saturday night. With four league matches remaining, the senior team remain two places and seven points below the last playoff position.

But the Blasters juniors had been much closer than that to advancing in the Reliance Foundation Development League (RFDL). They were left heartbroken in the dying moments of their final league match of the Zonal Group Stage (Kerala) against Kickstart FC Karnataka. That match was played just a few kilometres away from the first team's home stadium, at the Maharaja's College Ground in Kochi.

Devo Athokpam put the Blasters ahead in the 25th minute, and their dream of advancing to the National Group Stage was alive till the 86th minute. But Premish T of Kickstart rewrote the script with an 87th minute equaliser. The match ended 1-1.

Meanwhile, Sreenidi Deccan FC played out a 1-1 draw with Muthoot FA. Sreenidi's chances of advancing as the third qualifier from the Zonal Phase depended on the Blasters' not winning.

In the end, Muthoot topped the group with 19 points from 10 rounds, while Kickstart finished second on 16 points. Sreenidi sneaked in as the third-placed side on 14 points, just one point better than the Blasters. Had the Blasters managed to keep a clean sheet, they would have finished on 15 points and qualified.

Three in a row for Muthoot
After finishing on top of the group, Muthoot FA head coach Anees K was glad his side have qualified for the third year in a row. “Competing at this level helped the players develop composure, teamwork, and an understanding of high-pressure football, Anees said.

“Qualifying for the RFDL National round for the third consecutive year shows that the academy has built a solid foundation and gained valuable experience in high-pressure games.

"The National round brings together the best teams from across the country and Muthoot FA will face more diverse playing styles and higher levels of skill and physicality. If we maintain current momentum and execute our strategies well, we could challenge for a top spot in the RFDL National Group Stage,” he said.

Muthoot FA, Kickstart FC and Sreenidi will join Dempo SC, FC Goa and Mumbai City FC in the next phase of the competition. Winners of the two other zonal phases in Kolkata and Meghalaya will join the six teams in then National Group Stage.