Thiruvananthapuram Kombans prepare for Super League Kerala Season 3
Thiruvananthapuram Kombans FC are preparing for Season 3 of the Super League Kerala and will open their campaign against Calicut FC in Kozhikode on September 26; they will host reigning champions Kannur FC at Chandrasekharan Nair stadium on October 4.
Thiruvananthapuram fans have embraced professional football again since the launch of SLK two years ago, drawing large crowds back to the city’s Chandrasekharan Nair stadium and restoring the matchday atmosphere. Thirteen-year-old Govind P Suthan and his friends, who attend a local coaching academy, have watched every home match since 2024. The Kombans’ revival follows a period when the city was once home to legendary players, and the club’s fixtures have brought the floodlights back on for another season.
The squad has been assembled by the club’s scouting team led by directors Terance Alex and TJ Mathew, both former footballers, with an emphasis on local representation. New additions from the city include Shijin T, Gokul S, Akshay PM, Femin Antony and Shinu R. The club has also signed Under-23 talents Hrithik Antony — the SLK ‘Project Game changer’ pick from Kovalam FC — and Shanu Stellus as part of the league’s initiative to promote uncapped players.
The Kombans have shifted away from an all-Brazilian roster and will feature players from Angola, Ethiopia, Ghana, Columbia and Brazil this season. Patric Mota, a crowd favourite, returns for a third consecutive season with the club. That international mix forms part of the club’s revised recruitment approach for Season 3.
Ian Gillan, who led Calicut FC to victory in the first season, is the Kombans’ head coach for this campaign. Commenting on the variety of players at his disposal, Gillan said: “A friend once told me that Kerala is the football hub of India. What I have this year is a jigsaw puzzle of which I am trying to make a beautiful picture.”
Managing director KC Chandrahasan emphasised the club’s long-term outlook and community backing, noting that TKFC is the only franchise supported by a business community of 30 members. He said football was not confined to the match months and that youth development remained a priority. “It is about setting a vision in motion with a long-term goal. Every year, there are observations and corrections. This time, it is a different team with new strategies.”
Support for the Kombans has been organised through three fan clubs that have emerged with considerable followings and who provide updates via their own social media channels. Rohini Sajeev, a hospitality-sector employee from Thrissur who began supporting the club after watching a match last season, said: “I have always loved football and the thrill of watching it live is unexplainable! I began to support the Kombans after watching them play!”
The Kombans’ Season 3 schedule begins with the away fixture against Calicut FC on September 26, followed by their home meeting with reigning champions Kannur FC at Chandrasekharan Nair stadium on October 4.