Mahesh Bhupathi, Travancore princess and former Benfica player among franchise owners in Super League Kerala

Super League Kerala unveils six franchises with notable owners like Mahesh Bhupathi and Kaz Patafta, promising exciting football action.

This is a nice bunch, one that includes some very interesting names. The Super League Kerala unveiled its six franchises at a glittering event here on Friday evening and there were many standout names among the owners.

There is the Travancore Princess Gowri Lakshmi Bayi, tennis great Mahesh Bhupathi, former Benfica player and current chairman of Australian A-League club Brisbane Roar FC Kaz Patafta, Director of Kannur International Airport M.P. Hassan Kunhi and many other corporate stars.

Kochi Pipers FC, Thrissur Roar FC, Malappuram FC, Calicut FC, Thiruvananthapuram Kombans FC and Kannur Squad FC are the six clubs which will play the inaugural edition which will start in September.

Mahesh Bhupathi, the CEO of SGSE, the sports and entertainment arm of the APL Apollo Group, which also owns teams in tennis, table tennis and chess leagues is the owner of Pipers while Patafta is among the owners of Roar. Lakshmi Bayi and Sahadulla are the co-owners of Kombans.

The SLK, which will be followed by semifinals and final after the league phase, is planned at three venues: Kochi’s Nehru Stadium, Kozhikode’s EMS Corporation Stadium and at Malappuram’s Payyanad Stadium in Manjeri.

The Kerala Football Association and Scoreline Sports, which will organise the SLK, are trying to get three more stadiums so that all the teams will have their own home ground.

Kerala Sports Minister V Abdurahiman, who attended the event, gave an assurance that the Government would offer all Government-owned grounds for tournaments organised by the KFA.