Super League Kerala Unveils Six Franchises with Star-Studded Owners
The Super League Kerala (SLK), a highly anticipated football league, has unveiled its six franchises at a grand event in Kochi. The league boasts an impressive roster of owners, including prominent figures from the sports, business, and royal circles.
Among the notable owners is Mahesh Bhupathi, the tennis legend and CEO of SGSE, the sports and entertainment arm of the APL Apollo Group. Bhupathi is the owner of Kochi Pipers FC. Another prominent owner is Kaz Patafta, the former Benfica player and current chairman of Australian A-League club Brisbane Roar FC. Patafta is among the owners of Thrissur Roar FC.
The Travancore Princess Gowri Lakshmi Bayi and Dr. Mohamed Ilyas Sahadulla, CMD of KIMS Hospital, are the co-owners of Thiruvananthapuram Kombans FC. M.P. Hassan Kunhi, Director of Kannur International Airport, is among the owners of Kannur Squad FC. V.A. Ajmal Bismi, MD of Bismi Group, is the owner of Malappuram FC. V.K. Mathews, tech entrepreneur and Chairman of IBS Group, is the owner of Calicut FC.
The SLK will feature six clubs: Kochi Pipers FC, Thrissur Roar FC, Malappuram FC, Calicut FC, Thiruvananthapuram Kombans FC, and Kannur Squad FC. The inaugural edition of the league will commence in September.
The league will be played at three venues: Kochi’s Nehru Stadium, Kozhikode’s EMS Corporation Stadium, and Malappuram’s Payyanad Stadium in Manjeri. The Kerala Football Association (KFA) and Scoreline Sports, the organizers of the SLK, are working to secure three additional stadiums so that each team can have its own home ground.
Kerala Sports Minister V Abdurahiman has assured that the Government will offer all Government-owned grounds for tournaments organized by the KFA. KFA president Navas Meeran expressed optimism that the league will provide a platform for Kerala’s talented footballers to showcase their skills and potentially secure opportunities to play for foreign clubs.