Malappuram FC Officially Launched; Fans Pack Payyanad Stadium

Malappuram FC officially launched its campaign for the second season of Super League Kerala with a major event at Payyanad Stadium in Manjeri. Around 2,500 people gathered to see the club introduce its new young Spanish coach and players, including star signing Roy Krishna. The crowd was excited when Roy Krishna was presented. The entire team staff and all squad members were introduced to the attendees. The event saw a large turnout of people of all ages, including children and adults, showing the strong local interest in football.

Prachi Tehlan, a well-known film actress and former captain of the Indian netball and basketball teams, was the chief guest. She unveiled the club’s new official jerseys for the season. MFC youth promoters Arshaq and Yusuf Ajmal received the jerseys. Also present at the ceremony were Ajil D Almeida, Head of Hummel India; Anas Edathodika, Malappuram FC’s Scouting Director; Navas Meeran, President of the Kerala Football Association; and Malappuram FC directors Dr. Anwar Ameen Chelat, Ashique Kainikkara, Shamsuddin A.P., and Ajmal V.A.

The event, which lasted for about two hours, also featured a musical performance by violinist and musician Safin Fareed and his band. The team directors stated that the support from the people of Malappuram during the first season of SLK was invaluable. They expressed hope for the same level of support this year and expect a full stadium for the first home match on the 3rd.

The current squad consists of 24 players, including five from other countries. The team’s head coach is Miguel Corral Torreira, a young 34-year-old from Spain. Cleofas Alex from Thiruvananthapuram, who was with the team last season, continues as the assistant coach. He has previously coached SAT Tirur in the I-League second division and was also the head coach of the Chennaiyin FC reserve team. Former Indian player Felix D’Souza from Goa is the goalkeeper coach.

Goalkeepers- Muhammed Azhar, Ajmal P.A, Muhammed Jaseen

Defenders- Hakku Nediyodath, Nithin Madhu, Akhil Praveen, Sanju Ganesh, Tony Antony, Sabrin Bush, Jithin Prakash, Sachin Dev

Midfielders- Muhammed Irshad, Gani Nigam, Abhijith PA, Saivin Ericson,
Facundo Ballardo (Argentina), Komron Tursunov (Tajikistan), Aitor Aldalur (Spain),

Forwards- Faslu Rahman, Akbar Siddique, Roy Krishna (Fiji), John Kennedy (Brazil), Muhammed Risvan, Rishad Gafoor