With the Durand Cup coming to an end, all eyes will be on the new season of the Indian Super League. According to reports from Sportstar, Kerala Blasters may host Bengaluru FC on September 21 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in the season opener.
The report also suggests that the schedule will be released later this week.
The 10th edition of the ISL will for the first time see a promoted team take part in it. Punjab FC have won the I-League last season to qualify for India’s top flight. Their inclusion in the league will make the league a 12-team affair for the first time since its inception.
The opening games are the very memorable ones and in the past, we have seen several opening fixtures involving the Kerala Blasters. This time they will kick-start the campaign against their southern rivals Bengaluru FC.
The last time these two teams met in the ISL, there was a massive controversy regarding a Sunil Chhetri free-kick. In protest, the entire Kerala Blasters team walked out from the game led by their coach Ivan Vukomanovic.
However, the goal proved to be the winner for Bengaluru FC as they progressed to the final, where they eventually lost against the Mariners.
In April 2023, Blasters and Vukomanovic faced massive repercussions for their actions. The club was slapped with a fine of five lakhs while the coach was banned for 10 games. Kerala Blasters have featured in three games in the Super Cup last season and three games in the Durand Cup this season. So the Serbian tactician needs to wait even longer before he can be on the sidelines for the Blasters.
So it is confirmed that Vukomanovic won’t be present on the sidelines in the opening fixture against Bengaluru FC. Overall, he will have to wait four more games to be back.
Bengaluru FC will also look to leave a mark this season as they agonizingly came close to lifting the ISL trophy last season. They had sent a junior team led by Bibiano Fernandes to the Durand Cup. The Blues were out in the group stages but some players showed promise.
It will be interesting to see the Blues this season under Simon Grayson as they have signed a horde of new players in the summer transfer window.
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