Inter Kerala FC, one of the exciting new entrants in this season’s Kerala Premier League, wrapped up their debut campaign with plenty of positives—and a few regrets. In an exclusive chat, club owner Sagar Ali shared his thoughts on the season, the challenges they faced, and the big plans ahead.
When asked whether he was satisfied with the team’s performance, Sagar was honest. “Not completely. We had a good team, and we would have finished in a better position if not for injuries. Our strikers got injured, and we faced a serious goal drought,” he said. “Multiple games we lost due to last-minute goals, like the one against KSEB. That was frustrating.”
He also added, “This was our debut season. The time was limited to complete the paperwork and to build a team simultaneously.”
Despite those setbacks, the overall effort and professionalism of the team were commendable. On the broadcasting side, Sagar had praise for the league’s media setup. “It was of top quality, and the league organizer Scoreline did a good job there,” he added.
Looking ahead, the club has set clear objectives. “We want to make a strong reserve team at the U21 level and keep them together for at least nine months so they can gel well,” Sagar explained. “The plan is to take them to All India tournaments. That way, we’ll build solid bench strength.”
He pointed to KSEB’s consistency as a model to emulate. “Why does KSEB perform well every season? Because they have a bunch of players who play round the year in multiple All India tournaments. We want to replicate that.”
Financially, the season went according to plan. “Yes, we could fit into the planned budget. We knew our limits and utilised it to the maximum,” Sagar said proudly. “We did everything professionally—player stay, training, media activities, everything was properly managed. We got good support from PVM Marine Engineering, who are also our investors.”
He also revealed plans to expand the club’s sponsorship base. “Next year, we have plans to rope in more sponsors so that we can aim higher.”
Grassroots development is another area Inter Kerala FC is keen to improve. “We are in talks with a popular academy in Vizag, and hopefully we will come to terms soon,” Sagar shared. “The plan is for player exchange and other collaborative activities so we can grow together. Currently, we have seven coaches working under us who hold B, C, and D licenses.”
As Inter Kerala FC sets its sights on a stronger second season, it’s clear that the foundations are being laid not just for immediate success but for long-term development as well. “This season was a learning point. We will be stronger next season“, Sagar sounded confident.
