Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar on Tuesday gave Kerala a reason to smile as he took the first steps in launching the Kochi franchise of the eight-team Indian Super League, partly owned by him along with the Hyderabad-based PVP Ventures.
The Little Master, who was on a whirlwind tour to the State with stoppages in Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi, through his nine-hour stay had a hectic schedule meeting Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and his Cabinet colleagues and the Leader of the Opposition, V.S. Achuthanandan, here separately prior to flying over to Kochi where he visited the Jawaharlal Nehru international stadium, which will be the home base of the Kerala Blasters Football Club.
The franchise was so christened by Mr. Chandy at a crowded press conference after his 15-minute meeting with Tendulkar who sought full assistance of the government in holding the league matches of the Kerala Blasters FC in Kochi, which was readily agreed upon. The meeting was also attended by Finance Minister K.M. Mani; Industries Minister P.K. Kunhalikutty; Revenue Minister Adoor Prakash; Power Minister Aryadan Mohammed; Food and Civil Supplies Minister Anoop Jacob; Youth Affairs Minister; P.K. Jayalekshmi; Excise Minister K. Babu, and Chief Secretary E.K. Bharat Bushan.
In his short address, Tendulkar said the name of the club perhaps reflected his status as a Master Blaster in cricket. “A lot of football was played during the warming-up sessions while I was with the Indian team and with Mumbai Indians. The games then used to get so serious that we were reluctant to call it off,” he said.
“I am also aware that in the 1980s there were many players from Kerala in the Indian football team. Now, there are none. So our effort is also to change the face of Kerala football as well. It is all about teamwork and though no changes can be brought about overnight, even with my association, I am sure that we will able in time give the people of Kerala and football fans across the country a reason to smile,” Tendulkar said.