Kerala Blasters FC Gear Up to Face Punjab FC in ISL 2024-25 Opener

Kerala Blasters FC and Punjab FC will kick off their ISL 2024-25 campaigns on Sunday in Kochi. Both teams have new head coaches aiming for success. Kerala Blasters seek to extend their opening-game win streak, while Punjab FC aim for consecutive victories in their second ISL season.

Kerala Blasters FC will commence their Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 campaign against Punjab FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi on Sunday at 7:30 pm IST. This season marks a new chapter for both teams, as they introduce fresh leadership with new head coaches at the helm, each striving to steer their clubs toward greater achievements. This encounter will be the third between the two sides, who each hold a prior victory.

Punjab FC impressed during their debut ISL campaign, concluding with a commanding 4-1 victory over East Bengal FC. They aim to carry that winning momentum into the new season. Securing a win against Kerala Blasters FC would mark Punjab FC's first-ever consecutive wins in ISL history, setting a solid foundation for their campaign. Kerala Blasters' new head coach Mikael Stahre brings a wealth of experience from top European and Asian teams to the Indian league.

"They are a very eager group, always ready to put in maximum effort. We have a good mixture of youth and experience and foreign players. All of them are driven to improve and achieve for this club," Stahre told ISL. Similarly, Punjab FC's new coach Panagiotis Dilmperis, engaged in his first assignment in Asia, expressed excitement about the Indian challenge. He praised Punjab's focus on quality over quantity and emphasized the club's significant progress in recent years.

"Punjab FC are moving forward every year. They take quality steps forward, with everyone at the club, including director Nikolaos Topoliatis, prioritizing quality over quantity. This season's challenge is to perform one step better than the last," Dilmperis said, reflecting on the previous strong season, particularly its second half. (ANI)

(With inputs from agencies.)