Kerala Blasters are a hugely talented side, says co-owner Sachin Tendulkar

CRICKET ICON Sachin Tendulkar, who co-owns Indian Super League (ISL) franchise Kerala Blasters, said on Wednesday that he has a hugely talented side, as reported by IANS.

The Blasters were impressive during the inaugural ISL season last year, eventually finishing runners-up.

The team's jersey was unveiled in the presence of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and the officials of the Muthoot Pappachan Group, who continues to be the principal sponsors for the second year in succession.

After unveiling the yellow-coloured team jersey, Tendulkar said he always believed in the colour yellow. The entire Kochi Blasters team was also presented on the stage.

"In the inaugural season last year, none of us knew when we played how it would go. As the games began and went forward, we had the full confidence that we could fill any stadium," said Tendulkar. 

"Slowly we started to win the hearts of people because of the way we carried forward. We have a hugely talented side and I have no doubt that this season our confidence levels are high after the training and the results will show." 

"Please continue to support and love us. We are going to give our best and this time we are going to better our performance and we will continue to get better," added Tendulkar who arrived here on Wednesday afternoon and left immediately after the event.

Chandy thanked Tendulkar for holding Kerala in high esteem.

"We are also indebted to him as he was the goodwill ambassador for the National Games that was held here early this year and also for his role in the Kerala Blasters," said Chandy. 

The seven home-matches of the Kerala Blasters will be played at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi with the first match to be held on October 6 against North East United FC.

The team is coached by former England U-21 manager Peter Taylor and its marquee player is former Spainish midfielder Carlos Marchena. 

The franchise also announced their full squad for the 2nd edition of ISL in the event. The impressive and diverse 26 member team is as follows:

Goalkeepers
Sandip Nandy, Stephen Michael Bywater, Shilton Pal.

Defenders
Rahul Bheke, Ramandeep Singh Randhawa, Carlos Marchena López, Sandesh Jhingan, Gurwinder Singh, Peter Iain Ramage, Marcus Vincent Williams, Bruno Caldini Perone, Saumik Dey.

Midfielders
Victor 'Pulga' Herrero Forcada, João Carlos Amaral Marques Coimbra, Mehtab Hossain, Peter Carvalho, Cavin Peter Lobo, Josué Currais Prieto, Shankar Sampingiraj, C.K. Vineeth, Ishfaq Ahmed

Forwards
Christopher Dagnall, Antonio Timothy German, Herschel Oulio Sanchez Watt, M. Mohammed Rafi, Manandeep Singh.