Season openers are often a tryst with the unknown, especially when there is a change in coaching staff and fresh arrivals. It is quite the mood in Kochi, where Kerala Blasters and Punjab FC start their Indian Super League campaign on Sunday. Both sides have appointed new head coaches and added exciting players to the squad, making it difficult to guess the plot of the story about to unfold.
It might be inappropriate to factor in Punjab's shocking 3-1 win here in February, considering both the winner, Staikos Vergetis and loser, Ivan Vukomanovic, have parted ways. Wilmar Jordan Gil, whose brace made the difference for Punjab that night, has joined Chennaiyin. Likewise, Dimitrios Diamantakos, whose penalty earned the Blasters a 1-0 away win, has also moved on.
"I understand we had a bad game here last season," is how Mikael Stahre, the new head coach of Blasters, put it in the build-up to the Punjab showdown. For the Swede, revenge is not on the agenda. He is here to write his own story. His counterpart, Panagiotis Dilmperis, responds in the same vein. "That is in the past. This season, a lot has changed, not only us; all teams have developed their roster, coaching staff and style of play," Dilmperis said.
That said, the two sides had a dress rehearsal a little over a month ago in the Durand Cup held in Kolkata. It was still pre-season and both sets of players should have come a long way in terms of fitness and sharpness since then. Luca Majcen had put Punjab ahead with a timely run and a cool finish. But substitute Mohammed Aimen arrived at the far post to tap in a ball played across by Kwame Peprah in the second half. "It was an even game in the Durand Cup. But it is a totally different ball game now," Stahre said. Yet again, Dilmperis was of the same opinion. "We are talking about two different games. The Durand Cup was just a few weeks of preparation for us and Kerala Blasters as well."
Who could start?
In their Durand meeting, the Blasters started new signing Noah Sadaoui alongside Kwame Peprah and skipper Adrian Luna. Rahul KP should find himself in an advanced role while new signing Jesus Jimenez could come off the bench. Hormipam partnered Milos Drincic in the centre of defence while Freddy Lallawmawma and Danish Farooq played in midfield. They should continue while Sachin Suresh is expected to start in goal.
For Punjab, two of the front three that played in Durand were Malayalis - Leon Augustine and Nihal Sudheesh, the latter on loan from the Blasters. Nihal's loan contract with Punjab doesn't have a clause prohibiting him from lining up against his parent club. Majcen will lead the line while Filip Mrzljak, Vinit Rai and Nikhil Prabhu are likely to occupy positions in midfield.
The match to be played at the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium in Kochi will kick off at 7.30 pm.