KERALA BLASTERS HAVE finally started their practice sessions ahead of their ISL 2020-21 campaign today.
Members of the Blasters contingent who have arrived in India - which includes mostly the Indian players along with 5 foreign players - have been staying at their designated hotel-turned-bio secure bubble for a while now.
Each player has undergone tests and periods of isolations, plus some time together in the bubble. Now, after having made sure that it's safe for them to take to the field, they have finally begun their practice as a team.
Kerala Blasters didn't have much of a memorable season in 2019-20. While their reserve side won the Kerala Premier League title, their first team finished 7th in the ISL points table; 10 points behind the top four. With the recruitment of new head coach Kibu Vicuna, who won the I-League with Mohun Bagan last season, the franchise is aiming to turn their fortunes around.
The squad has undergone its most radical transformation this summer. Sandesh Jhingan, the club's original legendary figure, has left after 6 years with the team to join Mohun Bagan. But at the same time KBFC have made major moves in the domestic market, locking down Sahal Abdul Samad on a 5 year deal, recruiting the likes of Naorem Mahesh Singh and Rohit Kumar.
Their overseas signings like Vincente Gomez and Gary Hooper also speak of a newfound depth in the squad and fans can't wait to see this brand new unit tested in ISL 2020-21.
Starting their practice sessions early is going to prove beneficial for KBFC since most of the players are coming off a prolonged period of isolation and lack of training due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The longer they spend on the training pitch the more likely they are to shake off the competitive rust; something that was painfully obvious to see at the I-League Qualifier matches that took place earlier today.
With the start of ISL facing a possible delay until December due to international travel complications faced by players and staff of many teams, the Blasters are looking at almost two months of intensive training to get them fully battle ready for the crucial season they are about to face.