Kerala Blasters W.F.C.

Kerala Blasters Women's Football Club, commonly referred to as The Blasters, is an Indian women's football club based in Kochi, Kerala, that competes in the Kerala Women's League, the second tier league of women's football in India.[1] Founded in July 2022, the club is affiliated with their men's team Kerala Blasters FC in the Indian Super League.[2]

This article is about the women's football team. For the men's team, see Kerala Blasters FC.

Kerala Blasters FC Women
Full nameKerala Blasters Women's Football Club
Nickname(s)Manjappada (Yellow Army)
The Tuskers
Short nameKBWFC, KER
Founded25 July 2022 (2022-07-25)
GroundJawaharlal Nehru Stadium (official)
Maharaja's College Stadium (secondary)
Capacity80,000
15,000
OwnersMagnum Sports Private Limited
DirectorRajah Rizwan
Head coachShereef Khan AV
LeagueKerala Women's League
WebsiteClub website
Active departments of Kerala Blasters FC
Football
(Men's)		 Football
(Women's)
Football
(Reserves
& Academy)		 eSports

History

Formation

On 1 June 2022, the Kerala Blasters announced the appointment of Rajah Rizwan as the director of the club's academy and the newly planned women's team.[3] Later on 25 July, Kerala Blasters officially launched their women's team and announced their participation in the 2022–23 Kerala Women's League season.[4] Shereef Khan was appointed as the first ever head coach of the team on a long-term contract.[5]

Inaugural season

Kerala Blasters played their first ever match on 10 August 2022 against Emirates Soccer Club at the Maharajas Ground and won the match 10–0 after Apurna Narzary completed a hat-trick with Kiran and Ashwathi completing their respective braces.[6][7] They won the next match 10–0 against SB FA Poovar on 12 August in which Sivisha completed her hat-trick and Gadha and Nidhiya completed their respective braces.[8][9] The Blasters played their next match on 16 August against Lords FA Kochi which ended in a 4–4 draw.[10] On 2 September, the Blasters defeated Kadathanad Raja FA by 13–1. Laxmi scored four goals and Malavika completed her hat-trick by coming in as a substitute.[11][12] On 11 September, they won 9–0 against Kerala United FC.[13] On 18 September, they played against Basco FC and won 3–2 at full-time and retain their first place in the league table.[14] The Blasters won their match against Luca SC on 2 October, which they won 4–0 after Apurna, who came back from an injury completed her brace.[15] On 13 October, in their final league game, the Blasters suffered their first ever defeat in their history against Gokulam Kerala FC, where they lost 2–6.[16] At the end of regular season, both Kerala Blasters and Lords FA finished with 22 points each having won seven, drawn one and lost one. However the Blasters were placed third in the league table behind Lords FA by virtue of goal difference and failed to advance to the final.[17]

Players

First-team squad
As of 13 October 2022[18]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  IND Tanu Bishnoi
2 DF  IND Aryasree S (3rd captain)
5 MF  IND Sivisha Chitteri
7 MF  IND Muskan Subba
8 DF  IND Aneeta Manoj
9 FW  IND Apurna Narzary
10 MF  IND Priyangka Devi (Vice-captain)
11 FW  IND Malavika Prasad (Captain)
12 FW  IND Sunita Munda
13 MF  IND Poornima Gehlot
14 MF  IND Arathi VV
16 FW  IND Krishnapriya M
17 DF  IND Gadha TG
18 GK  IND Nisari K
No. Pos. Nation Player
19 DF  IND Pinky Kashyap (4th captain)
20 MF  IND Nidhiya Sreedharan
21 DF  IND Nilima Khakha
22 MF  IND Lubna Basheer TP
23 MF  IND Anjitha M
24 DF  IND Poli Koley
25 FW  IND Ashwathi P
26 FW  IND Kiran Pisda
27 FW  IND Laxmi Tamang
31 DF  IND Elakkiya B
32 DF  IND Sabnam Rai
36 MF  IND Reet Kashyap
— DF  IND Abhirami
— MF  IND Shalumole T

Personnel

Current technical staff
As of 3 August 2022
Role Name Refs.
Director Rajah Rizwan [19]
Head Coach Shereef Khan AV [20]
Assistant Coach Aswini [21]
Assistant Team Manager Nisha [21]
Goalkeeping Coach Saji Joy [21]
Physiotherapist Priyanka [21]

Last updated: 25 July 2022
Source:

References
  1. "ISL giants to IWL hopefuls - Inside Kerala Blasters' many challenges to start a women's football team". ESPN.com. 28 September 2022. Archived from the original on 2 October 2022. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  2. "Kerala Blasters FC announce launch of senior women's team". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 27 July 2022. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  3. Ghosh, Shaunak (2 June 2022). "Rajah Rizwan to be Kerala Blasters Academy and Women's Team Director". Khel Now. Archived from the original on 2 June 2022. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  4. raoff, usamaa (29 September 2022). "ISL giants to IWL hopefuls -Kerala Blasters". SportsUnfold. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  5. "Kerala Blasters launch senior women's team". OnManorama. Archived from the original on 25 July 2022. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  6. "ഗോൾ മഴയിൽ നിറഞ്ഞാടി ബ്ലാസ്‌റ്റേഴ്‌സും ഗോകുലവും; കേരള വിമൻസ് ലീഗിൽ ജയത്തോടെ തുടക്കം". Mathrubhumi. Archived from the original on 10 August 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  7. "KWL 2022: Kerala Blasters, Gokulam Kerala FC Kick Off The Season With Double Digit Scorelines | The Fan Garage (TFG)". thefangarage.com. 10 August 2022. Archived from the original on 12 August 2022. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  8. "Kerala Women's League: Kerala Blasters crush SB FA 10-0". OnManorama. Archived from the original on 12 August 2022. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  9. "രണ്ട് മത്സരം, 20 ഗോളുകൾ! കേരള വിമൻസ് ലീഗിൽ ബ്ലാസ്റ്റേഴ്‌സ് വനിതകൾ ആറാടുകയാണ്" [Two matches, 20 goals! Blasters women are enjoying the Kerala Women's League]. Mathrubhumi. Archived from the original on 12 August 2022. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  10. "Kerala Women's League: Lord's FA hold Kerala Blasters in thriller". OnManorama. Archived from the original on 16 August 2022. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  11. "KWL: Kerala Blasters drub Kadathanad Raja FA 13-1". OnManorama. Archived from the original on 3 September 2022. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  12. "പതിമൂന്ന് ഗോളുകൾ!! കേരള ബ്ലാസ്റ്റേഴ്സ് വനിതകൾ ഗോളടിച്ചു കൂട്ടുകയാണ് | Exclusive | Kerala Women's League | Fanport Sports News". 2 September 2022. Archived from the original on 2 September 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  13. "KWL: 24 goals in 2 matches; Gokulam Kerala & Kerala Blasters post big wins". OnManorama. Archived from the original on 11 September 2022. Retrieved 11 September 2022.
  14. "KWL: Gokulam Kerala crush SB FA 21-0, Blasters edge Basco". OnManorama. Archived from the original on 20 September 2022. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
  15. "കേരള ബ്ലാസ്റ്റേഴ്സ് വനിതകളുടെ വിജയക്കുതിപ്പ്; ലൂക്കാ എഫ്സിക്കെതിരെ നാല് ഗോൾ ജയം". Fanport. 2 October 2022. Archived from the original on 2 October 2022. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  16. "വനിതാ ലീഗിൽ ഗോകുലം കേരളയ്ക്ക് മുന്നിൽ കേരള ബ്ലാസ്റ്റേഴ്സ് തകർന്നു, ഫൈനൽ കാണാതെ പുറത്ത് | Featured". Fanport Sports News. 13 October 2022. Archived from the original on 13 October 2022. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  17. "KWL league phase ends; 367 goals scored in 45 matches; Gokulam, Lord's to play final". OnManorama. Archived from the original on 13 October 2022. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  18. Kerala Blasters Women [@KeralaBlastersW] (9 August 2022). "Here's the squad for our first ever season in the Kerala Women's League! 💛⚽" (Tweet). Retrieved 9 August 2022 – via Twitter.
  19. "Rajah Rizwan to be Kerala Blasters Academy and Women's Team Director". Khel Now. 2 June 2022. Archived from the original on 2 June 2022. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  20. "'A new beginning': Kerala Blasters FC announces launch of senior women's team". English.Mathrubhumi. Archived from the original on 25 July 2022. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  21. Kerala Blasters Women [@KeralaBlastersW] (2 August 2022). "The Backbone 💪 Presenting our backroom staff for the upcoming season!" (Tweet). Retrieved 2 August 2022 – via Twitter.
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