Kolkatta: In the first match of Group B in the IFA Shield, Gokulam Kerala FC will face Mohun Bagan SG today. The match will take place at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata at 3 PM. Under the new Spanish head coach, Jose Hevia, Gokulam is fielding a refreshed squad. The lineup includes four foreign players from Spain: Alfred Planas, Edu Martinez, Luis Matiyas, and Juan Carlos.
Team captain Shibin Raj, who is also the team’s goalkeeper, hails from Kozhikode. The team manager is Nikithesh, also from Kozhikode. Midfielder Rishad serves as the vice-captain, and the squad features nine players from Kerala. Another team in the group is United Sports Club from Kolkata.
“We don’t see this as just another match. Our goal is to win this tournament, which holds great significance in India. This match will help me understand how far the team has come after the recent training sessions,” said head coach Jose Hevia.
The IFA Shield is returning after three years, with the 125th edition taking place now. The last champions in 2021 were Real Kashmir. East Bengal FC holds the record for the most championships, having won 29 times.