Sachin Football Team Named As “Kerala Blasters”

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kochi team for the Indian Super League (ISL) football tournament, co-owned by cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, has been named ‘Kerala Blasters’. The Team name was announced by state chief minister Oommen Chandy here on Tuesday. Tendulkar also accepted Chandy’s request to be Goodwill Ambassador of the National Games, to be held in Kerala in January-February 2015. After meeting Chandy in his chamber, a beaming Tendulkar said he was “overwhelmed and speechless” at the love and affection showered on him by Keralites. Tendulkar said though he grew up playing cricket, not many know that he enjoyed other sports as well. “I grew up playing cricket… Very few people knew that I enjoy other sports like hockey, football and badminton.” He said the Indian Super League would definitely give a boost to football in the country. Tendulkar took the state government’s request for being Goodwill Ambassador for the National Games as a “huge honour”. “I am very happy to be part of this and for promotion of sports,” he said. Chandy thanked Tendulkar for accepting the state’s request in this regard.