Gokulam Kerala created history in Indian football as they became the first team in the I-League to defend the title as they defeated Mohammedan Sporting 2-1 in the league deciding final day clash. After losing to Sreenidi Deccan, Gokulam needed at least a draw to seal the league title whereas Mohammedan sporting needed a win to salvage pride and also the I-League trophy in front of their home fans.
The game was a very cagey one and both sides had their chances but were wasteful with them as it ended goalless in the first half. The start of the second half saw Mohammed Rishad as he led a counterattack and found some space and pulled the trigger, Mohammedan goalkeeper Zothanmawia made a poor judgement as the ball trickled down the goalline to hand the visitors the lead.
However, the Black Panthers came back in the game with a timely goal as substitute Azharuddin Mallick got the last touch from a Marcus Joseph freekick is the home team equalised. But the Black Panthers failed to hold it for long as Emil Benny scored the decisive goal to make it 2-1. This was Benny’s second goal on the final league decider as he scored once last year aswell as it speaks volumes about how he remains calm and composed even when he is playing a pressure game.
After Kerala Blasters’ heroics in the Indian Super League as they finished as runners up, Kerala football saw the rise as the Kerala Santosh Trophy team defeated Bengal in the finals under Bino George’s tutelage and now Gokulam Kerala under the leadership of Vincenzo Alberto Annese have created history by defending the I-League title for the first time.
After the I-League win Gokulam’s president Praveen added how the Kerala Blasters’ rise in the ISL changed everything back in Kerala as they again fell in love with the game. Speaking about the rise in popularity, Praveen said, “with the arrival of Blasters, again football started on an upward trajectory in Kerala.”
Praveen shared how the ISL brought back the love of football in Kerala people and therefore they have opened a club and then there are around 20 teams in the Kerala Premier League fighting for the title. He shared how getting into the ISL is the primary goal.
“Once ISL came and Blasters became popular, people started coming back to football and players started taking things seriously again,” Praveen says. “That was a boost to the association as well, and they started to hold the state league regularly. Then, we entered the scene and have been doing well. Kerala United has now come up and we have around 20 teams in two groups in the Kerala Premier League. Today, everyone wants to own a team in Kerala, so many are ready to invest. When they saw the success we are getting, the huge fan base of Blasters… they want to enter the scene.”
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