KOCHI: Having been training on the artificial surface at the Corporation Stadium in Thrissur, Kerala Blasters FC players will get back to playing on natural grass, in Goa, from Wednesday.
According to the plans drawn up by the team management, the Kochi franchise will be moving to Guwahati for their opening Indian Super League match, against North East United FC on October 13, directly from Goa.
Which effectively means that David James and his boys will set up base in Kochi, their supposed home town, just prior to their first home match on November 6.
As per the revised ISL schedule, necessitated by non-availability of three other venues on specific dates, the Blasters’ will step into the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium against FC Goa. That moment for the home fans will arrive only after they have played five away games.
Ahead of the league, the team would spend a week and a half at a training camp in Goa, before their trip to Guwahati, Assam. The first warm-up match is on October 3, followed by games on October 5, 7 and 9.
The team that will line-up against the Blasters include Goan giants Churchill Brothers SC and Salgaocar SC, who are expected to offer tougher tests than the friendlies in Thrissur.