MALAPPURAM: Goal-2015, the fourth edition of the all Kerala inter-collegiate football tournament being organised by The New Indian Express, will open at the Malappuram District Sports Council Stadium, Kottappady, on Sunday.
In the opening match, NSS College, Manjeri, will look to make amends for the last season’s early exit when they face Sri Krishna College, Guruvayur, at 6 pm.
The Kerala Football Association-approved tournament features 24 of the best college teams in the state, vying for honours in a knock-out format. The 15-day event offers a champions’ purse of `2 Lakh - the highest for a football tournament in the state across all categories. The runners-up will be richer by `1 lakh while all 24 teams will get match fees and playing kits. Individual brilliance also stands to be honoured with as many 10 awards up for grabs.
Industries Minister P K Kunhalikutty will inaugurate the tournament, the final of which is slated to be held on January 11, 2015. As an improvement on the previous editions, Goal-2015 will be played under floodlights. S N College, Kannur, are the defending champions, while Sree Kerala Varma College, Thrissur, had reigned supreme in the first two seasons. Both teams are geared up to put forth a strong challenge for the crown again.
Prior to the opening match, the inaugural function will be attended by Dr M K Muneer, Minister for Panchayats and Social Welfare, E T Muhammad Basheer MP, BJP state president V Muraleedharan, P Ubaidullah MLA, K Biju, Malappuram District Collector and K P Muhammad Musthafa, Municipal Chairman and The New Indian Express Editorial Director Prabhu Chawla.
Former India international U Sharaf Ali will be the star footballer in attendance while actor Unni Mukundan, the brand ambassador for Goal 2015, will be the prime attraction.
NSS College, Manjeri, would be relying on a bunch of senior district and university players as they hope to begin Goal-2015 on a wining note.
Sudheer P M, the NSS physical education department head, said that the team were well set and ready to take the challenge against Sri Kirshna College.
“We will field a 4-4-2 formation with a solid midfield,” Sudheer said.
The team of Sri Krishna College, Guruvayur, are not short of confidence either, having beaten NSS twice when they met in the Calicut University inter-zone tournament and in the Karunya Trophy held in Coimbatore. However, Sri Krishna College will be without their star player Jince K John, who is in Gwalior for the All-India Inter-University football championship. But the availability of Santosh Trophy player V Vishnu is a big boost.