Gokulam Kerala 'homeless' after corporation's bizarre decision
The Corporation decided to end the contract in its council meeting last week.
The Corporation decided to end the contract in its council meeting last week.
The Corporation decided to end the contract in its council meeting last week.
The Kozhikode Corporation has decided not to renew its agreement with Gokulam Kerala FC to lease out the EMS Corporation Stadium.
The Corporation has cited a breach in the maintenance clause for not extending the agreement.
Gokulam, who won the I-League in 2021 and 2022 and the Indian Women's League (IWL) for the past three seasons, criticised the decision.
"We dont understand how can Kozhikode Corporation take a decision like this not to extend the contract with them as we are ticking all the boxes in Kerala football. We will be representing India again in the AFC again next season. Every year our team train here and have gone to play in several countries such as Uzbekistan and Jordan. Doesn't Kozhikode Corporation take pride that a team full of players from Malabar is making this happen? Doesn't our sporting merit do not count at all? Is this the message Kozhikode Corporation want to give to those who wants to invest in Indian football? asked club president V C Praveen in a statement.
The stadium has been Gokulam's home ground since their inception in 2017.
The Corporation decided to end the contract in its council meeting last week.
Gokulam was quick to point out how the state government turned a blind eye to their recent IWL triumph.
"We touchdown Kerala with (the) trophy and the news waiting for us and players was not a congratulatory note from (the) government but that we have no stadium to play. Great Policy decision," the club tweeted tagging Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Sports Minister V Abdurahiman.