Nikhil baradwraj is a young passionate co - owner of Kerala blasters at the helm of the day to day operations of the club. As ambassadors of football to this state, the management aims and sets a clear steer to grow the sport in Kerala through various initiatives of the club and continue developing players who can represent India on an international level and groom legends of the game.
KB being a club that have set records for decibel levels in stadiums worldwide, don’t you think your club would be the worst affected by having no fans in the stadium this year ?
Absolutely. My first experience with KB was actually at S3 finals and it was actually unbelievable and unreal. I have supported Manchester United all my life and to see a club in India with that sort of perception is totally unparallel.
What was your reaction when you heard that your father was taking over a football club in India?
To be honest there wasn’t any expectations going in as I didn’t really know because I was away for a really long time. I was very much like a fan because it was my first year coming into the more professional side. So when I saw that first match I fell in love. There is no other way to describe it.
How involved as an owner are you in the club ?
In a club there are various aspects like recruitments , marketing, brand building and so on. And as KB is such a big club we are always trying to take it to the next level. I work closely with the catalyst for recruitments but it is more of his space , the business side that is the finances, operations , marketing is where I come in a day-to-day basis.
How important of a role has this massive fan following played for you to sign some players?
Definitely it plays a part, its not the only one, but it definitely is a major reason for them. Because immediate perception matters. A lot of them when they first join they addresses the fan groups because they realize it’s a lot bigger than they expected.
What different road will be KBFC adapting this season?
Progress wise we are making a lot of changes structurally , we want to be in a position where we get a result for everything we do. For this season we want to take that next step forward which is getting into the top four. Now that we have that structure in the playing side we are confident on that next step. But generally what really matters is progress.
Is a club owned stadium happening in the future?
Yes. Actually when you are here long term and that is your vision you can actually unlock a lot of things. Having a stadium of your own gives a whole different meaning. It is definitely in our vision but little far away because obviously currently the infrastructure and the players are the most important.
~ Sneha V Mathew
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