AIFF Media Team
NEW DELHI: Rajasthan United FC take on Kerala Blasters FC, while Bengaluru FC face Mohammedan Sporting, as actions from Groups D and C, respectively, continue on Thursday, October 30, in the AIFF Super Cup 2025-26 in Goa.
Rajasthan United’s clash against Kerala Blasters (16:30) at the GMC Stadium in Bambolim will be streamed live on the Indian Football YouTube channel, while Bengaluru FC versus Mohammedan Sporting (19:30) at the PJN Stadium in Fatorda will be telecast live on Star Sports Khel and streamed on JioHotstar.
The Desert Warriors open their campaign against the Blasters
Vikrant Sharma, who had helped Rajasthan United gain promotion to the I-League back in 2021-22, is back in charge as the head coach and will be looking to pull off more upsets in his second stint at the club.
“Obviously, they (Kerala Blasters) are an ISL team with great experience, having played at the top level for over a decade,” said Sharma. “We respect them, but once we hit the pitch, it’s 11 versus 11.
“We have seen such results (upsets) happen in the past, and there is no reason it can’t be done again – maybe we can even go one step ahead,” he said.
Rajasthan goalkeeper Bhabindra Malla Thakuri echoed the sentiments of his coach, stating that the team is fully motivated to capitalise on the opportunity to perform on a big platform.
“This is a big opportunity for every player to perform on a big platform. We are fully motivated and focused on executing our game plan. We’ll give our best and stick together,” said Thakuri.
Kerala Blasters, who have been training for almost a month now, are looking to get a good start to the AIFF Super Cup.
Head coach David Català said, “The team is ready, and the players have been working really well. The first games are never easy, but I believe we can make it a good tournament.
With Rajasthan being a difficult team to break down, Català believes that Kerala Blasters need to be at their best.
“We know they press high and are very compact in defence, which makes them difficult to break down. We must stay sharp and play with the right attitude from kick-off,” he said.
Blasters midfielder Adrián Luna stressed the importance of playing an attacking brand of football.
“It’s a short competition, so getting three points from the first match is crucial. We’ll try to play attacking, vertical football, but also adapt to the conditions,” said Luna.
Former champions Bengaluru FC gear up for Mohameddan Sporting test
The second match of the day will see former champions Bengaluru FC take on Mohammedan Sporting at the PJN Stadium. For the former, however, it is a matter of getting the result against the side that was a rather difficult opponent for them last season. Bengaluru only lost thrice at home in 2024-25, with Mohammedan being one of the teams that won at the Kanteerava.
Fast forward to the PJN in Goa in the AIFF Super Cup 2025-26, Bengaluru FC head coach Gerard Zaragoza would like to see his side get the three points with a more direct approach.
“We want to play more direct football – overcome lines faster and attack the goal with fewer passes,” said Zaragoza. “Last season, we were solid defensively, but we needed to create more chances and finish better. That’s something we’ve focused on in pre-season.”
Bengaluru goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu highlighted the importance of getting into the rhythm as soon as possible.
“It feels great to be back in competitive football. We have been training well, and everyone’s working hard to get back to their rhythm. The main thing now is to stay fit and keep improving with every session,” said Sandhu.
Mohammedan Sporting, on the other hand, are relishing the opportunity to play against a strong side like Bengaluru. Head coach Mehrajuddin Wadoo said, “We know Bengaluru are a strong team full of experienced professionals, but these are matches you look forward to as a player and as a coach. We’ll go out there, play our football, and give everything we have,” said Wadoo.
“We need to stay disciplined and work hard – that’s been our identity all season. The results don’t go your way sometimes, but performance is what matters. I’ve told the players to enjoy the occasion and play with freedom. When they express themselves, they perform at their best,” said Wadoo.
Mohammedan defender Sajad Hussain Parray is relishing the opportunity to prove himself against quality opposition.
“We’re a young and energetic bunch of players, and we are ready to give it our all. It’s a big challenge, but also a big opportunity for us to prove ourselves against a team like Bengaluru FC,” said Sajad.
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