The Hindu : Sport / Football : Ignatious to lead Kerala

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Oct 17, 2004

Sport

Sport - Football

Ignatious to lead Kerala

KOCHI, OCT. 16. State Bank of Travancore's Sylvester Ignatious will lead the Kerala team in the 59th Santosh Trophy National football championship in Delhi.

Kerala, last year's runner-up, has been given a direct berth in the quarterfinal league and will open its campaign on October 21.

With stars like international Vinu Jose, K.Ajayan, Asif Saheer and Suresh out with injury, the selectors have gone for seven new faces this time. Still, SBT which qualified for this season's premier National League, is a dominant force in the side with nine players.

Titanium has four players and KSEB three in the 20-member team announced at the Udyogamandal FACT Ground on Friday evening. M.Peethambaran is the coach and former international C.C. Jacob the manager.

"The team is good, a blend of youth and experience but we will miss Asif Saheer," said Ignatious who will be making his debut as Kerala captain. Saheer and Ignatious were Kerala's leading scorers at the last edition held in Manipur two years ago.

The team: Goalkeepers: Joby Joseph (Pta), T.G. Purushothaman (Kerala), M.V. Nelson (Tvm). Defenders: K. Bineesh (Tvm, vice-captain), M. Abdul Basheer (Mlp), Sivakumar, K. Sameer, K. Jaseer, Lanel Thomas (all Tvm). Midfielders: K.M. Abdul Naushad (Pkd), M.K. Sunil (Ekm), N.P. Pradeep (Idk), T. Shabeer Ali (Mlp), Bijesh Ben (Ekm), Noushad Pari (Kerala). Forwards: M.A. Abdul Hakeem (Pkd), Ebin Rose, Sylvester Ignatious (captain), T. Usman (all Tvm), M. Mohammed Rafi (Ksgd). Coach: M. Peethambaran (KSC). Manager: C.C. Jacob (EDFA secretary).