Viva Kerala

Football club infobox
clubname = Viva Kerala


fullname = Viva Kerala
nickname = "Neelapadda"
founded = August 8, 2004
ground = Municipal Corporation Stadium (Kozhikode)
capacity = 35,000
chairman = P Bhaskaran
Manager = Liaqat AliCoach = A.M.Sreedharan
league = Kerala State League

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Viva Kerala is a professional football club based in India. They play at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (aka Kaloor International Stadium) in Kochi, the largest metropolitan area in the Indian state of Kerala. Their training ground is FACT Ground in Udyogamandal. Viva Kerala's name is the result of a contest, won by Dr. P Ramakrishnan of Ernakulam.

Formed on August 8,2004 the club officially took off on August 19 in a ceremony at FACT grounds. The club was formed by group of businessmen who felt the need for the state's representation in country's top football league, the National Football League (NFL).

The objective was to prepare a team for the EDFA (Ernakulam District Football Association) Super League and State League in the first year and National Football League (2nd Division) in the second year. The ultimate aim is to eventually be the number one football team of India.

Viva Kerala has been promoted to the inaugral Indian Pro League (Professional NFL) for 2007/2008 season, from NFL 2nd division 2006/2007 season on 6th April 2007. Thanks to audacious striking duo, Nigerian import Baba Tunde and PK Anil Kumar(taken on loan from KSEB), Viva Kerala management is much indebted to them for the team's success. They scored 19 goals in 9 matches on road to the first division league! Viva Kerala's success is being celebrated on high in Malayalam media with credits to India's dismal performance in Cricket World Cup 2007 (noticeable apparent shift from mammoth cricket clichés to football ones in leading newspapers of Kerala), with hope that the team will cling on forever in Premier division of NFL (where hyped teams like FC Kochin made mark and perished) and revive Kerala Football to a newer dimension.

Unfortunately there has been a slight hiccup in the path top glory for VIVA Kerala.The club along with Salgocar ,Goa has been relegated back to 2nd division at the end of I-league 2008.

Home Stadium

The Kaloor Stadium(above)

Ground Name Jawaharlal Nehru International stadium. Also or formerly known as Kaloor International stadium

Established in 1996 - 97
Capacity - 75,000
Ground type - Grass
Flood Lights - Yes
Home teams - Viva Kerala and FC Kochin

Team 2008/2009

*Coach: A.M.Sreedharan
*Assistant Coach: Binu George
*Team Manager: Prasanthan K

Results

"Kerala State Football League"
*2005: 3rd
*2006: 1st
*2007: 4th

"Kerala State Club Chammpionship"
*2005: 2nd
*2006: Semi-Finalists

"Ernakulam District Football League"
*2005: 1st
*2006: 1st
*2007: Joint Winners with Central Excise

"EK Nayanar Memorial Gold Cup"
*2007: 2nd

"Third Division NFL - South Zone"
*2006 Chalakudy,Kerala: 1st

"Tirur All India Football Tournament
*2006: 1st

"Second Division NFL"
*2007 Kochi (First phase): 2nd
*2007 Kozhikode (Second phase): 2nd

External links

* [http://www.vivakerala.com Official Website]
* [http://www.vivakerala.net www.vivakeralafc.com - VIVA Kerala FanCorner]
* [http://www.indianfootball.com India's Premier Football Site]

References

* [http://www.indianfootball.com/seasons/2006-07nl2.html Indianfootball.com 2nd Division Results page]
* [http://www.indianfootball.com/features/interview/interview52.html Interview with Viva Kerala's current coach A M Sreedharan]
* [http://indianfootball.com/features/editorscolumn/column200704-2.html Viva Kerala - The Hope of Kerala Football]