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The Kerala Premier League is the highest state-level football league organized by the Kerala Football Association and played in the state of Kerala, India. It is the overall fifth tier of the Indian football league system. For sponsorship reasons it is officially known as the Scoreline Kerala Premier League.[2] Founded in 1998, the Kerala Football League was the first football league in Kerala, and got rebranded in 2013 as the KPL. Kerala United is the current champion.
| Organising body | Kerala Football Association |
|---|---|
| Founded |
|
| Country | India |
| Number of teams | 20 |
| Level on pyramid | 5 |
| Promotion to | I-League 3 |
| Relegation to | Kerala Premier League Second Division |
| Current champions | Kerala United (2nd title)[1] |
| Most championships | SBT Thiruvananthapuram (6 titles) |
| TV partners | FanCode Scoreline Sports (YouTube) |
| Current: 2023–24 | |
History
editKerala Football League
editAfter the introduction of the National Football League by the All India Football Federation, the Kerala Football Association started its Kerala Football League (KFL) in 1998. The team finishing top was nominated to 2nd division of the National Football League.
1998 season
editFC Kochin was crowned the inaugural champion. SBT finished in second place.
1999 season
editThe second edition of Kerala Football League was held in Kochi and Kollam in December 1999. FC Kochin retained the tille, and SBT FC become the runners up.[3]
2007 season
editSBT FC won the title, and Central Excise Kochi become the runners up.[4]
Format
edit
The league features teams from the state of Kerala affiliated with the KFA. The top four teams from each group qualify for the final round. A women's league started in the 2014–15 season with 8 teams.[5][6]
Sponsorship
edit- 2013–15, 2018–21: Ramco[2]
- 2015–16: Dentcare Dental Lab
- 2016–17: Cochin Shipyard[7]
- 2017–18: ICL Fincorp[8]
- 2022–: Scoreline
Team statistics
edit| Team | Winners | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|
| SBI Kerala | 6 | 5 |
| Gokulam Kerala FC | 2 | 3 |
| KSEB FC | 2 | 2 |
| Real Malabar FC | 0 | 0 |
| Kerala United FC | 2 | 0 |
| BASCO FC | 0 | 0 |
| Parappur FC | 0 | 0 |
| Kerala Blasters B | 1 | 0 |
| Luca Soccer Club | 0 | 0 |
| Golden Threads | 1 | 0 |
| SAT | 0 | 1 |
| Kovalam FC | 0 | 0 |
| Kerala Police | 0 | 1 |
| FC Areekode | 0 | 1 |
| Muthoot FA | 0 | 0 |
| Shooters United Pande | 0 | 0 |
| FC Kerala | 0 | 0 |
Championship summary
edit| Season | Champions | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|
| Kerala Football League | ||
| 1998–99 | FC Kochin | SBT |
| 1999–2000[9] | FC Kochin (2) | SBT |
| 2000–01 | SBT | Trivandrum Titanium FC |
| 2001–02 | League cancelled | |
| 2002–03 | League cancelled | |
| 2003–04 | SBT (2) | FC Kochin |
| 2004–05[10] | KSEB | SBT |
| 2005–06 | Viva Kerala FC | SBT |
| 2006–07[11] | SBT (3) | Central Excise Club |
| 2007–08 | SBT (4) | Trivandrum Titanium FC |
| 2009–2013 | League not held | |
| Kerala Premier League | ||
| 2013–14 | Eagles | SBT |
| 2014–15 | SBT (5) | Kerala Police FC |
| 2015–16 | SBT (6) | Central Excise Club |
| 2016–17 | KSEB (2) | FC Thrissur |
| Gokulam Kerala | Kerala United | |
| 2018–19 | Indian Navy FC | Gokulam Kerala |
| 2019–20 | Kerala Blasters B | Gokulam Kerala |
| 2020–21 | Gokulam Kerala (2) | KSEB |
| 2021–22 | Golden Threads | KSEB |
| 2022–23 | Kerala United | Gokulam Kerala |
| 2023–24 | Kerala United (2) | SAT |
Top scorers
edit| Season | Top scorer | Team | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015–16 |  Askar
|
Central Excise Cochin | 6 |
| 2016–17 | Firos Kalathingal
|
Kerala Police | 7 |
| 2017–18 |  Emmanuel Aidoo
|
Quartz FC | 12 |
| 2018–19 | Vishnu  Harry Moris Bipaka Thapa Christian Sabah
|
Shooters United Padne FC Kerala Indian Navy (football club) Gokulam Kerala FC |
6 |
| 2019–20 | Isahak Nuhu Seidu  Kamara E.
|
Golden Threads FC SAT |
8 |
| 2020–21 |  Saliou Guindo
|
Gokulam Kerala FC | 8 |
| 2021–22 | Isahak Nuhu Seidu
|
Golden Threads FC | 12 |
| 2022–23 | Samuel Mensa Konney
|
Gokulam Kerala FC | 10 |
Media coverage
editFanCode and Scoreline Sports are the current official streaming partners of the Kerala Premier League.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Kerala United retain KPL crown with three goals in injury time". Kannur: ON Manorama News. 11 February 2024. Archived from the original on 12 February 2024. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
- ^ a b "KFA Announces Kerala Premier League". Football News India. Archived from the original on 17 May 2014. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
- ^ Staff (5 April 2006). "1999 season Kerala Football League". Archived from the original on 22 October 2019. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
- ^ Staff (5 April 2006). "2007 season Kerala Football League". Archived from the original on 10 July 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
- ^ "Kerala U-21 Football Team aims for Santosh Trophy as Kerala Premier League kicks off". thenewsminute.com. 18 April 2016. Archived from the original on 22 May 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
- ^ "Crippled but Trudging Along..." newindianexpress.com. 1 July 2015. Archived from the original on 22 May 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
- ^ Correspondant, Special. "Kerala Premier League to kick off on April 8". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 11 October 2022. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
- ^ Rayan, Stan (4 April 2018). "Lack of funds forces KSEB to pull out of KPL". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 11 October 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
- ^ "WELCOME TO FOOTBALL CLUB KOCHIN — Success Stories". fckochin.in. Archived from the original on 10 August 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
- ^ Staff (5 April 2006). "Top six teams for Kerala Football League". www.oneindia.com. Archived from the original on 21 March 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
- ^ Staff (5 May 2007). "SBT enters Kerala Football League final". www.mykhel.com. Archived from the original on 21 March 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2021.