Kerala Blasters completing the training in UAE and playing a warm-up match, the team returned to Kochi

Kochi: Coach Ivan Vukomanovic says that Kerala Blasters have a hope of winning the ISL this time. Evan clarified to Asianet News that the departure of some important players from the team is not a setback and Blasters have a balanced team. The coach also said that the strong support of the fans is the strength of the team. Blasters' first match of the season will be against East Bengal on the 7th of next month. Kerala Blasters are in final preparations for the ISL season. After completing the training in UAE and playing a warm-up match, the team returned to Kochi and this time, they have high expectations. Notably, the matches will return to the home and away format in the coming season. Kochi will be the venue for Blasters' 10 home matches including the inaugural match. This has made the Yellow Army fans even more excited. After a gap of two years, Blasters' home matches are returning to the Kalur Stadium.

Ticket sales have started

Ticket sales for Kerala Blasters' home matches are in progress. Season tickets are sold first. Season ticket price is Rs 2499. Watch all home matches of the season with this. Blasters' opening match is against East Bengal on October 7. Last season in Goa, Blasters reached the final. The present teams are ATK Mohun Bagan, Bengaluru FC, Chennaiyin FC, East Bengal, FC Goa, Hyderabad FC, Jamshedpur FC, Kerala Blasters, Mumbai City FC, North East United and Odisha FC. Singapore is ranked 159th in the FIFA rankings. India is at 104th position. Apart from Ashiq, Sahl Abdul Samad was in the playing XI. It was also the match in which KP Rahul debuted in the Indian jersey. Rahul played as a substitute. India draw in friendly against Singapore Both teams scored one goal each in the match held in Ho Chi Minh City. Singapore took the lead in the 37th minute through Ikhsan Fandi's goal. But Ashiq Kuruniyan's goal in the 43rd minute gave India a draw. Singapore is ranked 159th in the FIFA rankings. India is at 104th position. Apart from Ashiq, Sahl Abdul Samad was in the playing XI. It was also the match in which KP Rahul debuted in the Indian jersey. Rahul played as a substitute.Both goals were in the first half. Both sides were far behind in creating goal scoring chances. Singapore, ranked lower than India, shocked the Blue Army in the 37th minute. The goal was through a free kick. Meanwhile, Liston Collazo shot from outside the box but failed to hit the target. But India came close in the 43rd minute. Chhetri's pass to Ashiq's finish. India failed to create chances in the second half as well. Chhetri, Sahal and Ashiq were withdrawn but it didn't matter. India went without defender Sandesh Jhinkan. Jinkan could not join the team due to a mistake in the travel documents. India also have a match against Vietnam two days later. The match is on 27th at 5.30 pm. Jinkan will lose this match as well. Chinglansana Singh also faced the same problem. The Indian team reached Vietnam without both of them from Kolkata. India is returning to the competition for the first time since June. India had won the last three matches. These wins qualified them for the AFC Asian Cup. The match can be watched live on Eurosport. Jio TV is also available for viewing.

Indian Team: Gurpreet Sandhu, Anwar Ali, Narender, Akash Mishra, Aniruddha Thapa, Sunil Chhetri, Roshan Noram, Liston Collazo, Sahal Adbu Samad, Ashiq Kuruniyan, Jackson Singh.

Meanwhile, Sandesh Jingan could not find a place in the playing eleven. For the first time since June, under Igor Stimac, India will return to the competition. Malayalam players Ashiq Kuruniyan and Sahal Abdu Samad will play in the match against Singapore in the Hung Tin tournament. The playing eleven for the match which will start at 5.30 has been released some time ago. Sunil Chhetri will lead the team. Another Malayali player KP Rahul is in the team but did not make it to the playing eleven. Singapore is ranked 159th in the FIFA rankings. India is at 104th positio. Meanwhile, Sandesh Jingan could not find a place in the playing eleven. Jinkan could not join the team due to a mistake in the travel documents. India also have a match against Vietnam two days later. The match is on 27th at 5.30 pm. Jinkan will lose this match as well. Chinglansana Singh also faced the same problem. The Indian team reached Vietnam without both of them from Kolkata. Jinkan, who recently left ATK Mohun Bagan, has returned to his old club Bengaluru FC. Later, he also won the Durant Cup with Bengaluru. Aashiq Kurunian left Bengaluru for Bagan during the season.

For the first time since June, under Igor Stimac, India will return to the competition. India had won the last three matches. These wins qualified them for the AFC Asian Cup. The match can be watched live on Eurosport. Jio TV is also available for viewing. The AFC Asian Cup football tournament will be held from June 16 to July 16 next year, and the venue of the tournament is yet to be decided as China pulled out of hosting due to the Covid-19 pandemic. If India reaches the quarter-finals of next year's tournament, the duration of the match will naturally be extended. If not, Stimach will be fired The Indian senior football team has reportedly extended Igor Stimach's tenure as captain till next year's AFC Asian Cup football tournament with strict conditions. Yesterday, the All India Football Federation (IIFF) Technical Committee headed by IM Vijayan recommended to the IIFF Executive Committee to extend the duration of the match. The AFC Asian Cup football tournament will be held from June 16 to July 16 next year, and the venue of the tournament is yet to be decided as China pulled out of hosting due to the Covid-19 pandemic. If India reaches the quarter-finals of next year's tournament, the duration of the match will naturally be extended. If not, Stimach will be fired. The Executive Committee chaired by All India Football Federation's new President Kalyan Chaubey and Secretary Shaji Prabhakaran approved the recommendation of the Technical Committee to extend the duration of the match. Federation Secretary Shaji Prabhakaran said that Stimach's target is to reach the quarter-finals in the Asian Championship and if he achieves that, the contract will be naturally extended and if not, he will be out. Prabhakaran also stated that the Executive Committee has accepted the conditions put forward by the Technical Committee.

Stimach's goal is not easy

Ranked 104th in the world and 19th in Asia, the Indian football team is qualifying for the Asia Cup for the fifth time and second time in a row. India have not progressed past the group stage since the 1964 tournament where only four teams competed. The Indian football team will play friendly matches against Vietnam and Singapore on September 24 and 27 as they prepare for the Vietnam tour.