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KBFC is a professional football team from Kochi, Kerala. It plays in the Indian Super League, which is the highest level of football in the country. The club was formed in May 2014, just before the start of the league’s first season. Since then, it has become one of the most popular and well-supported teams in Indian football. Many fans know the club simply as the Blasters.
KBFC Full Form
The KBFC full form is Kerala Blasters Football Club. It is a leading football club that plays in the ISL. The club is one of the most supported clubs in Asia. The football club has a very wide supporter group that goes by the name of Manjappada.
History and Formation of KBFC
The All India Football Federation decided to start a new football league called the Indian Super League in 2014. They planned to create eight teams based in different cities. For this, they invited people to buy team rights.
On 13 April 2014, it was confirmed that the Kochi team would be owned by Sachin Tendulkar, a former cricket captain of India, and businessman Prasad V. Potluri. Later, on 27 May 2014, the team got its official name. The first Indian player the team signed was Mehtab Hossain, a well-known footballer.
After that, the team picked seven more Indian players for their first season. On 13 August 2014, the club announced that David James, a former goalkeeper from England, would be their head coach and also play as the main star of the team.
On 21 August 2014, the team joined the international player draft and selected seven foreign players to join their squad. This marked the full formation of Kerala Blasters FC for their first ISL season.
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Club Identity and Philosophy
Kerala Blasters Football Club is more than just a team. It stands for the spirit, culture, and pride of Kerala. The club wears yellow as its main colour. Yellow stands for energy, hope, and passion. It also reminds people of Kerala’s golden sunsets and bright traditions. Because of the yellow jerseys, fans proudly call the team “The Tuskers”, a name inspired by the strong and graceful elephants seen in Kerala’s festivals and temples.
The club’s logo also shows this connection. It has the face of an elephant with a football. The elephant shows strength and loyalty, while the football shows the club’s love for the game. Together, they create a strong identity that people easily recognise.
Kerala Blasters believes in unity and teamwork. The club wants to grow football not only at the top level but also among children and young players. It supports local talent and wants to give them a platform to shine.
The support from the people of Kerala is the heart of the team. Kerala Blasters always tries to stay connected with the fans and give them reasons to cheer, both on and off the field.
Performance in the ISL
Kerala Blasters played their first Indian Super League season in 2014. From the very beginning, they got strong support from fans. In their first season, the team reached the final but lost the match by just one goal. It was a close game, and many fans felt proud of the team’s fight.
In 2016, Kerala Blasters reached the final again, but this time, the match went to a penalty shootout. The team fought hard but lost once more, and it was another foul moment.
The Blasters reached their third final in the 2022 season. The team showed strong performance throughout the season once again, but the final ended in a draw. The final result was decided by counting the penalties, and the team lost again during the shootout.
Over the years, the team has had ups and downs. Some seasons were strong, others were not. Injuries, frequent changes in coaches, and team combinations affected their performance. But one thing remained the same, the love from fans and the team’s effort to play good football.
Kerala Blasters has built strong rivalries over time. The most famous one is with Bengaluru FC. When these two teams play, the stadiums are full, and the energy is high. These matches are called the Southern Derby, and they are always exciting.
Even without a trophy, Kerala Blasters is one of the most followed and respected teams in the ISL. Their journey is full of emotion, passion, and the hope of becoming champions one day.
The Manjappada – KBFC’s Fan Base
Manjappada means “Yellow Army” in Malayalam. It is the name of the Kerala Blasters fan group. They are one of the biggest and most active fan groups in Indian football. From the first season, Manjappada has been with the team, showing love and support in every match.
These fans wear yellow, sing loudly, and fill the stadium with flags, banners, and chants. The Manjappada stands strong no matter if the team wins or loses. They create a powerful energy inside the stadium. During a match, the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi is filled with over 40,000 fans.
Manjappada is also very active on social media, and it has an active online account. They used to share news, photos, and messages about the team. They even run fan pages in different languages to connect with different audiences. The group also has fan clubs outside India in places like the UAE, UK, and the US.
These fans watch matches together and keep the spirit of KBFC alive around the world. Manjappada is also known for doing good work in society. They take part in charity events, blood donation camps, and clean-up drives. This shows that their love for the club goes beyond football.
Iconic Players and Coaches
Kerala Blasters FC is a professional football team from India. The club plays in the Indian Super League (ISL), which is the highest level of football in the country.
The team plays all its home matches at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi, a place known for its loud and passionate crowd.
The list below shows how many matches the players have played and how many goals they have scored in tournaments like the Durand Cup, Super Cup, and the Indian Super League.
| Country | Player Name | Active Years |
| England | David James | 2014 |
| Canada | Iain Hume | 2014, 2017–2018 |
| Spain | Carlos Marchena | 2015 |
| Northern Ireland | Aaron Hughes | 2016–2017 |
| Haiti | Duckens Nazon | 2016–2017 |
| England | Wes Brown | 2017–2018 |
| Bulgaria | Dimitar Berbatov | 2017–2018 |
| Nigeria | Bartholomew Ogbeche | 2019–2020 |
| Burkina Faso | Bakary Koné | 2020–2021 |
| Bhutan | Chencho Gyeltshen | 2021 |
| Croatia | Marko Lešković | 2021–2024 |
| Lithuania | Fedor Černych | 2024 |
| Spain | Jesus Jimenez | 2024–2025 |
KBFC’s Role in Indian Football Development
Kerala Blasters is not just a football team, but it has played an important role in growing Indian football. The club does special work to support young talent. It also conducts dummy matches to choose talented people from the state.
The club has also set up an academy named Kerala Blasters Youth Academy to train fresh talent. This academy trains young boys who want to become footballers. They learn skills, fitness, and discipline from good coaches. Many players from the academy have gone on to play for the main team and even for India.
The club also runs several sports programmes across Kerala. These football camps are usually organised in schools, towns, and villages. The coaches from the academy visit these places to test children. They also conduct workshops to teach football tricks to children.
Kerala Blasters also takes part in youth tournaments, like the Reliance Foundation Development League. These matches give young players the chance to play in real competitions and improve.
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FAQs on KBFC Full Form
Who is the CEO of Kerala Blasters?
Abhik Chatterjee is the ceo of Kerala Blasters.
Is Sachin Tendulkar the owner of Kerala Blasters?
No, Sachin Tendulkar is not the owner of Kerala Blasters currently.
What is KBFC?
KBFC stands for Kerala Blasters Football Club, a professional Indian Super League team based in Kochi, Kerala
Who is the captain of KBFC?
As of the 2023–24 and 2024–25 seasons, Adrián Luna has been the permanent club captain of Kerala Blasters FC. He took over the captaincy ahead of the 2023–24 ISL season and had his contract extended until 2027
