With the preseason training coming to a close now, Kerala Blasters can get their much-needed short break to focus and regroup prior to the main ISL 2016 season, scheduled to start on 1 October. The Sachin Tendulkar co-owned side take on NorthEast United FC in the inaugural game of the season in Guwahati.
The ISL franchisee, which will be coached by Steve Coppell this time around, didn't record a single defeat in their three practice games in Thailand. Blasters took on some of the premier Thai League and first division teams as well as other youth teams and came out with good results in every single game.
Kerala Blasters faced former Thai champions BBCU FC in their opening friendly match and won 2-1, owing to goals from Kerala-born footballer Prashant and former Premier League forward Michael Chopra. Their second match with Bangkok United FC remained a goalless draw, while they won their third friendly game 1-0 over a team comprising players of Thai professional clubs Phrae United and BEC Tero at the MTU training ground in Thailand on Sunday.
This time too, Chopra, 32, who played with the Kerala Blasters in the inaugural ISL season, remained on the scoresheet.
The Kochi-based outfit came close to lifting the ISL title in the first season, but lost out to Atletico de Kolkata in the final. In 2015, they stood rock-bottom in the league, shocking many. This time around, they will be keen on making sure not to have any loopholes when it comes to giving a dominating performance in ISL 2016.
As for now, Kerala Blasters will conduct their last leg of pre-season training at the Mohun Bagan facility in Kolkata from September 20 Sept to 28.
