Football frenzy hits fever pitch as Super League Kerala 'pass relay' continues journey

Kochi: The 'Football Pass Relay', a prelude to the inaugural edition of the much-hyped Super League Kerala (SLK), will cover 1,000 kilometres before culminating at the opening ceremony to be held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on September 7.

The relay, which started its journey from Kanhangad in Kasaragod district on August 17, will be accorded a warm reception in 75 locations scattered over eight districts. Around one lakh football enthusiasts are expected to be part of the 22-day-long publicity campaign, the organisers said. 

The pass relay has so far covered three districts – Kasaragod, Kannur, and Kozhikode – and the next stop will be Malappuram. The campaign vehicle, carrying a portable football turf and goalposts, will make a stopover at football academies, schools, colleges and public grounds along its route to hold soccer-based programmes and competitions. 

As part of the promotional campaign, Kannur Warriors FC, who represent Kannur in the franchise-based league, organised an interactive session with trainees of football academies in the city. The six franchises - Kannur Warriors FC, Calicut FC, Malappuram FC, Thrissur Roar FC, Forca Kochi FC, and Thiruvananthapuram Kombans FC - that will figure in the inaugural edition of the SLK, have been making arrangements to host the campaign vehicle on their home turf. 

Kochi to be main venue

Apart from the opening ceremony and the season opener, the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium will also host the final of the SLK. In the inaugural match, Forca Kochi FC will take on Malappuram FC on September 7. The final is scheduled for November 10. 

The first semifinal will be held at the EMS Corporation Stadium, Kozhikode, on November 5 while the Malappuram District Sports Complex Stadium in Manjeri will host the second semifinal on November 6. 

Four venues

The two-month-long league will be played across four centres – Kochi, Kozhikode, Malappuram and Thiruvananthapuram. Malappuram FC and Thrissur FC will share the Manjeri stadium while the EMS stadium will be used by Calicut FC and Kannur Warriors FC for their home games.

Thiruvananthapuram Kombans will make their home debut at the Chandrasekharan Nair Stadium on September 16. Each team will play five matches each on their home turf.

Season One of SLK will have 33 matches in total, including the semifinals and final. The matches are scheduled to kick off at 7 pm. Although there are four venues, Kozhikode and Malappuram will host the maximum number of matches, 11 each. There will be six matches in Kochi while Thiruvananthapuram will host five.