IFA Shield 2009: The Spirit of Kerala still alive at IFA Shield

While there are no teams from Kerala at the 114th edition of IFA Shield, the fans from the State have a lot to yearn for as there is a plethora of players from Kerala ready to showcase their skills in this year’s event.

The football fans of Kerala have been disappointed with the withdrawal of Viva Kerala from the IFA Shield. The irony is that the official reason cited for withdrawal was that they did not have enough numbers to make the squad. On the brighter side, watching the other squads shaping up for this year’s event, it is of great pride that players from the State are plying their trade with various clubs.

As we are inching closer to the tournament, footballkerala.com takes a look at the players that will provide enough eye candy for us to keep a tab on the IFA Shield fixtures.

Group A: East Bengal Club, Chirag United SC, Tata Football Academy

The East Bengal team has no Keralites in the team after former Indian left back Muttath Suresh was not retained at the beginning of this season.

Denson Devadas, the 26 year old midfielder from Kannur and R Dhanarajan, the 29 year of defender from Palakkad form the Kerala contingent at Chirag United and are regulars in the starting XI of the club.

The squad list for Tata Football Academy that qualified through the Pradyut Dutta Memorial Trophy is not available and hence the composition of the team is not known

Group B: Mohammedan Sporting Club, Churchill Brothers SC, Shillong Lajong FC

This group may not have any representation from Kerala as Bineesh Balan, the former TFA cadet and star striker missing from the squad list of reigning I-League champions Churchill Brothers due to a minor injury. The team management does not want to risk their starlet given that the I-League is only a month away and they also have additional fixtures due to the AFC Champions League commitments.

Mohammedan and Lajong do not have any players from Kerala, thereby making Group B the least attractive for an average football fan from the State.

Group C: Mohun Bagan AC, Mahindra United, George Telegraph SC

Mohun Bagan is served well in defence by 21 year old Rino Anto. The former cadet from TFA is a sturdy first team player of Bagan.
Mahindra United consists of five ‘mallus’ making the Jeepmen the team with the maximum Keralite interest led by star Indian midfielder NP Pradeep from Idukki. While Pradeep may miss the beginning of the tournament, Justin Stephen, the current KFA player of the year from Kottayam will man the strong midfield along with Sushant Mathew from Wynad and newcomer Aseem Kutty. Striker Mohammed Rafi from Kasaragod completes the Kerala contingent at Mahindra. The number would have gone up had former Indian player K Ajayan Nair been not ruled out due to injury.

The third team in the group, George Telegraph is yet to name their squad for the IFA Shield.

Group D: AS des Douanes (Senegal), Air India, Pune FC

The Senegalese team and the airmen (Air India) do not have any players from Kerala.
Pune FC, the newcomers into the I-League has three players from the State. Leading the pack is Othallo Tabia the 25 year old strongman from Trivandrum playing in defence. TM Manoj, a virtual unknown striker who previously played for Sacred Hearts will vie for a place in the starting XI with fellow statemate Anees Kutty.

IFA Shield Fixtures

August 30: Mohammedan SC v/s Lajong FC
August 30: Air India v/s Pune FC
September 1: Chirag United SC v/s Tata Football Academy
September 1: Camelia George Telegraph v/s Mahindra United
September 2: Mohammedan SC v/s Churchill Brothers SC
September 2: AS Douanes v/s Air India
September 3: East Bengal v/s Tata Football Academy
September 3: Mohun Bagan AC v/s Camelia George Telegraph
September 4: Churchill Brothers SC v/S Lajong FC
September 5: AS Douanes (Senegal) v/s Pune FC
September 6: East Bengal v/s Chirag United SC
September 6: Mohun Bagan AC v/s Mahindra United

September 8: 1st Semi-final (Winner of group B v/s Winner of group D)
September 9: 2nd Semi-final (Winner of group A v/s Winner of group C)

September 12: Final (Winner of 1st Semi-final v/s 2nd Semi-final)

Jason Morais writes for Footballkerala.com

From the archive. First published on footballkerala.com on Sunday 30 August 2009, restored from the site's 2012 database. Text as originally published.