The Hindu : Sport / Football : Nelson to lead Kerala

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 09, 2005

Sport

Sport - Football

Nelson to lead Kerala

KOCHI: Goalkeeper M.V. Nelson of the KSEB will lead defending champion and host Kerala in the Air India Express 60th Santosh Trophy. The 28-year-old from Thrissur becomes the first goalkeeper in nearly 30 years to lead the State.

The team includes East Bengal's I.M. Vijayan, M. Suresh, Mahindras' K. Ajayan and Sporting Club de Goa's Vinu Jose — four of the five Kerala-born footballers who are playing for clubs outside the State. The Kerala Football Association had invited them to join the State team under the AIFF's `domicile rule'. "It's a balanced side, more balanced than last year," said the Kerala coach M. Peethambaran after the KFA President K.M.I. Mather announced the team here this evening.

The team: Goalkeepers: M.V. Nelson (KSEB, Tsr, captain), Jean Christian (SBT, Alp), Jinish Thomas (CPT, Ekm). Defenders: K. Jaseer (KSEB, Mlp), Vinu Jose (Sporting Club de Goa, Kerala), M. Abdul Basheer (SBT, Tvm), M. Suresh (East Bengal, Kerala), R. Dhanarajan (Viva Kerala, Pkd), K. Bineesh (KSEB, Tvm), N.P.Pradeep (SBT, Idk). Midfielders: K. Ajayan (Mahindras, Kerala), K.M. Abdul Naushad (SBT, Pkd), Lanel Thomas (SBT, Tsr), Bijish Ben (Central Excise, Ekm), Sylvester Ignatious (SBT, Tvm), Martin John (SBT, Tvm). Forwards: Ebin Rose (Titanium, Tvm), T. Asif Saheer (SBT, Mlp), M. Mohammed Rafi (SBT, Tvm), P.K. Anil Kumar (KSEB, Tsr), M.A. Abdul Hakeem (SBT, Pkd, vice-captain), I.M. Vijayan (East Bengal, Kerala). Coach: M. Peethambaran. Technical instructor: K.P. Sethumadhavan (NIS). Physio: Gigi George. Manager: A. Patrick Pereira. — Principal Correspondent