Defender Sanju to lead Team Kerala in 79th Santosh Trophy
Kerala's 22-member Santosh Trophy squad was announced in Kochi on Thursday.
Kerala's 22-member Santosh Trophy squad was announced in Kochi on Thursday.
Kerala's 22-member Santosh Trophy squad was announced in Kochi on Thursday.
Defender Sanju G will lead Team Kerala in the 79th Santosh Trophy Football Championship in Assam. The 22-member squad comprising nine debutants was announced in Kochi on Thursday.
National Games gold-winning coach Shafeeq Hassan will once again manage the state side, with Thiruvananthapuram native Ebin Rose as his assistant.
Former Santosh Trophy star K T Chacko is the goalkeeping coach.
Kerala are seven-time champions of the prestigious men's annual football tournament. Kerala finished runners-up last year, losing narrowly to West Bengal in the final.
Kerala are in Group B alongside Services, Punjab, Odisha, Railways and Meghalaya. Kerala face Punjab in the opener on January 22.
"Kerala has given us a huge responsibility, and we don't have an excuse to not give our best," said head coach Shafeeq Hassan.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Alkesh Raj TV. Hajmal S, Muhammed Jasewn M
Defenders: Sanju G, Amanij M, Ajay Alex, Bibin Ajayan, Sandeep S, Abdul Badish, Tejas Krishna
Midfielders: Arjun MM, Arjun V, Asif OM, Viknesh M, Aboobacker Dilshad ML
Forwards: Shijin T, Muhammed Ajsal, Sajesh E, Muhammed Riyas PT, Muhammed Sinan AP, Muhammed Ashique K, Muhammed Ashar NA
Staff: Shafeeq Hassan (head coach), Ebin Rose (assistant coach), Shaji PK (manager), KT Chacko (goalkeeping coach), Physio: Ahamed Nihal Rasheed, Video analyst: Kiran K Narayanan