Super League Kerala
| Organising body | Kerala Football Association Unifed Football Sports Development Pvt Ltd |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2023 |
| Country | India |
| Number of clubs | 6 |
| Current champions | Kannur Warriors |
| Most championships | Calicut Kannur Warriors (1 title) |
| Broadcaster(s) | Sony Sports Ten 2 DD Malayalam TV by e& Sports.com |
| Sponsor(s) | Sports.com Amul |
| Website | superleaguekerala.com |
| Current: 2025 Super League Kerala | |
The Super League Kerala (SLK), also known as the Sports.com Super League Kerala powered by Amul, is a men's professional franchise football league in the state of Kerala, India, organised by the Kerala Football Association and Scoreline Sports.[2][3] The league currently operates outside the Indian football league system and does not follow promotion and relegation.
History
Formation and launch
The Super League Kerala (SLK) was established in 2024 as a franchise-based football competition jointly organised by the Kerala Football Association (KFA) and Scoreline Sports Private Limited. Conceived as an ambitious initiative to develop football at the grassroots level, the league aimed to professionalise the state’s football ecosystem and provide a platform for young players to compete alongside experienced professionals.
The six franchises of the inaugural edition were unveiled at a grand launch event held at the Grand Hyatt, Bolgatty, Kochi, in May 2024. The event was attended by several prominent figures from Indian football and sports administration, including former India internationals I. M. Vijayan, Bhaichung Bhutia, and Jo Paul Ancheri, along with commentator Charu Sharma, actress Mandira Bedi, and officials from the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and the Kerala Sports Council.[4]
Inaugural franchises and ownership
The inaugural edition featured six regional franchises representing key footballing centres of Kerala:
- Thiruvananthapuram Kombans FC – owned by Gowri Lakshmi Bayi (of the Travancore royal family), Dr Mohamed Ilyas Sahadulla (KIMS Hospital), K C Chandrahasan (Kerala Travels), and T J Mathews (Kovalam FC).
- Forca Kochi FC – initially owned by tennis legend Mahesh Bhupathi, CEO of SGSE.
- Thrissur Magic FC – co-owned by Kaz Patafta (Chairman & CEO, Brisbane Roar FC), Benoit Joseph (Magnus Sports), and Mohammed Rafeeq (Nusym Technologies).
- Calicut FC – owned by tech entrepreneur V. K. Mathews, Chairman of the IBS Group.[5]
- Malappuram FC – co-owned by V. A. Ajmal (Bismi Group), Dr Anvar Ameen Chelat (SAT Tirur FC, Grand Hypermarkets), and Baby Neelambra (Saudi Indian Football Forum).
- Kannur Warriors FC – co-owned by M. P. Hassan Kunhi (Kannur International Airport Ltd), Mibu Jose Nettikadan (Castle Group, Doha), Praveesh Kuzhuppilly (Asset Homes), and Shameem Backer (Wayanad FC).
Ownership transitions and rebranding
Following the initial announcement, several franchises underwent ownership changes and rebranding ahead of the inaugural season.
- The Kochi franchise was taken over by a consortium led by Malayalam actor Prithviraj Sukumaran, Supriya Menon, Nasly Mohammed, Shameem Backer C. K., Mohammed Shyjal K., and Praveesh Kuzhipally. The team was subsequently renamed Forca Kochi FC.[6]
- The Thrissur franchise was acquired by film producer Listin Stephen, owner of the production house Magic Frames, and rebranded as Thrissur Magic FC.[7]
- The Kannur franchise, initially known as Kannur Squad FC, was later renamed Kannur Warriors FC.
Objectives and vision
The SLK was envisioned to serve as a bridge between Kerala’s local football circuits and India’s premier competitions such as the Indian Super League and I-League. By partnering with investors, sports entrepreneurs, and global stakeholders, the league aimed to elevate the state’s footballing infrastructure, coaching quality, and player professionalism. The organisers projected that the SLK would create new career pathways for Kerala’s players and coaches, attract regional fan communities, and position the state as a key hub in Indian football’s development pipeline.
Competition format
Super League Kerala features six franchise-based clubs representing different regions of the state. The league follows a double round-robin format, in which each club plays the other twice. At the end of the league stage, the top four clubs advance to the semi-finals, which are played as single-leg knockout fixtures. The winners of the semi-finals meet in the final, where the champion of Super League Kerala is decided.
Clubs
| Club | City |
|---|---|
| Calicut | Kozhikode |
| Forca Kochi | Kochi |
| Kannur Warriors | Kannur |
| Malappuram | Malappuram |
| Thiruvananthapuram Kombans | Thiruvananthapuram |
| Thrissur Magic | Thrissur |
Stadiums
| Calicut FC | Forca Kochi | Kannur Warriors |
|---|---|---|
| EMS Corporation Stadium | Maharaja's College Stadium | Jawahar Municipal Stadium |
| Capacity: 50,000 | Capacity: 15,000 | Capacity: 30,000 |
| Malappuram FC | Thiruvananthapuram Kombans | Thrissur Magic |
| Payyanad Stadium | Chandrasekharan Nair Stadium | TMC Stadium |
| Capacity: 30,000 | Capacity: 30,000 | Capacity: 15,000 |
Broadcasters
The first season of the Super League Kerala aired on Star Sports First (Malayalam) and streamed on Hotstar and ManoramaMAX (for Gulf viewers). On July 21, 2025, the Super League Kerala signed 5 year contract with Sports.com (SEGG media) for broadcasting rights for a record $11.6 M.[8]
Results
| Season | Champions | Runners-up | No. of clubs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Calicut | Forca Kochi | 6 |
| 2025 | Kannur Warriors | Thrissur Magic | 6 |
See also
References
- ^ Mathew Joseph
- ^ "Kerala Super League launched". onmanorama.com. Archived from the original on 14 July 2023. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
- ^ "Hoping for the start of a revolution, says Kochi owner Prithviraj/Sreejesh launches Kochi team's jersey". The Hindu. 26 August 2024.
- ^ "With six teams in fray, Super League Kerala to commence in September". With six teams in fray, Super League Kerala to commence in September. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
- ^ Bureau, The Hindu (15 June 2024). "Kozhikode team for Super League Kerala launched". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
{{cite news}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ "Forca Kochi FC: Prithviraj unveils name of his 'Super League Kerala' team". @mathrubhumi. 11 July 2024. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
- ^ ചന്ദ്രൻ, നീതു (10 August 2024). "തൃശൂർ മാജിക് എഫ് സി ഇനി ലിസ്റ്റിൻ സ്റ്റീഫന്റെ ടീം". Metro Vaartha (in Malayalam). Retrieved 4 October 2025.
- ^ "Super League Kerala: Where can GCC viewers watch the football matches online?". OTTPlay. Retrieved 9 March 2025.