Last year, Thiruvananthapuram was swept off its feet by a football frenzy that the capital had not witnessed in a long time. The district got its first professional football franchise under Super League Kerala (SLK), Thiruvananthapuram Kombans, courtesy a group of entrepreneurs who call Thiruvananthapuram home. As the second season of the league has kicked off with six teams in the fray, football fans in the city are heady with excitement again.
Young fans M Surya Narayan and Vinayan VS clearly remember when that last happened. “Ten years ago during the SAFF Cup when there was an incredible turn out at the Greenfield stadium to watch India take on Afghanistan,” says Vinayan, 26, a bank employee. “Social media was hardly active at this level, save for some activity on Facebook.”
This time Thiruvananthapuram Kombans has six foreign players [from Brazil], besides those picked from national level and the young raw talents selected from football academies. While the reception the team received during home matches at Chandrasekharan Nair Stadium, its home ground, and at away matches last season took everyone by surprise, it also revived the pride associated with football in the city once upon a time.
The team has three fan clubs — South Coast Troopers, Komban Fanatics and Kombanpada. Surya, a student, started an Instagram account, Komban Army, in early 2024 when news of the venture was announced. Little did he know then that it would grow into an officially registered fan club with 500-plus members. “We were just 17 people initially. Then the fan base grew. The name South Coast Troopers was suggested by one of the members.”
The excited fans of Thiruvananthapuram Kombans
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Akshind AD, who manages Kombans Fanatics that has over 300 members on their WhatsApp community alone, says that after the last season’s matches, there has been a sudden spurt of new tournaments. “Football is more popular here than cricket. Everyone associated Malappuram with football till the Kombans came to town. There is just as much potential here. But nothing was being done to encourage it. Holding trials and tournaments provide amateur players with more opportunities,” he says. Surya, like Akshind, was present at all 10 matches in the last season with several of the fan club’s members.
KC Chandrahasan, managing director of Thiruvananthapuram Kombans, says, “The Kombans is a gift to Thiruvananthapuram from people who have lived their formative years here or found success in the city. It is for the first time that a business community is coming together and taking the initiative to give back to their city, reigniting the spirit of the city and love for the game of football.”
When TJ Mathew, a veteran footballer now in his 90s, who founded Kovalam Football Academy to train young talent from Kovalam, and Chandrahasan floated the idea for a professional club, Dr MI Sahadulla, founder, KIMS Hospital, came on board. “The city was not yet ready, but the need for an SLK team could not wait. Fortunately, the Kombans was fielded by about 25 investors who root for the capital,” Mathew says.
“Our investors wanted to bring back that glory, providing the youth with an opportunity to seize,” Chandrahasan adds.
Appukuttan Nair, a former player, who holds the unbeaten record of nine goals in the 1982 Santosh Trophy match at Thrissur, says, “All clubs are defunct now. So clubs like Kombans will bring young players to the forefront. There are not enough grounds here for youngsters to play for free. That is the difference from our days. Malappuram has some form of football happening all the time, even Sevens, and they have plenty of grounds.”
The excited fans of Thiruvananthapuram Kombans
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Architect NS Abhayakumar, also a founding member of the Kombans, says that they have entered into a five-year contract with Chandrasekharan Nair Stadium aimed at adding football and spectator-friendly infrastructure over each year. The grass has been relaid for the new season, floodlights and maintenance seat ladders installed apart from setting up a semi-permanent dressing room and toilets to host a match of this scale,” he elaborates.
Chandrahasan reveals that a major football infrastructure project is in the offing. “We should be doing more for future generations. Our plans include a FiFA-standard facility with a 11 A-side grass turf and collaborating with major football clubs noted for their academic excellence in the future.”
Promoters of the club intend to use sports to steer youngsters away from vices that otherwise plague them. Dr Sahadulla, chairman, advisory board of the Kombans, sees sports as the perfect vehicle to promote fitness and create jobs. “Each franchise can generate a good number of jobs in their respective districts. If Kombans is successful in making an impact in job creation, health awareness and talent nurturing, our investment will have paid off.”
The Kombans Sports Foundation organised a summer school football tournament during the annual school break earlier this year where 500 children enrolled. G Vijayaraghavan, honorary director, says one of the reasons for the initiative was to create a social impact while fighting drug abuse and screen addiction. “The next step is to select and train students after the match season wraps up. Similar camps are being planned around badminton and swimming for girls as there aren’t enough national-level participants from Kerala.”
Chandrahasan firmly believes that football is a game for the masses. “We aim to keep it all-inclusive, be it for players or spectators, with people from all strata participating, instead of relegating it to a particular segment.”
Vinayan, who is also an administrator with South Coast Troopers, was able to give his mother Sheeja S and younger brother Vipul S their first live matchviewing experience last year. Sheeja remembers the “vibe” being “another level”, choosing to watch two more home matches. “We went berserk!” she says, recollecting the excitement at the stadium that clearly seems to have rubbed off on her.
With Kombans all set to play their first game on October 5, Surya remembers feeling a sense of awe while stepping onto the grass field at the stadium last season. “Our stadium’s location in the heart of the city stirred a lot of curiosity. Those who would pass by in buses also came to watch and ended up following the rest of the season,” Vinayan says.
Members of South Coast Troopers, a fan club of Thiruvananthapuram Kombans
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Manchester United-fan Arvind Soju, a software professional, feels that the team and the skills they bring could be a surprise package. As a follower of ISL (Indian Super League) and then Kerala Blasters, the decision to support a professional club that represent his home district was instant. “Such an initiative is good news for the football ecosystem here in general,” he says.
“We’re expecting football with a Brazilian touch. Last season, we had no expectations as the team was new. Yet, they made it to the semis. That makes it even more exciting to watch the games this season,” Surya adds.
Thiruvananthapuram Kombans takes on Kannur Warriors at Chandrasekharan Nair Stadium on October 5 at 7.30pm.