Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar is reported to have has sold off his stake in the Kerala Blasters Football Club, and will no longer be part of the Yellow Brigade.
Meanwhile, business tycoon M.A. Yusuf Ali’s Lulu Group International is all set to take over Blasters Sports Pvt Ltd, the owners of Indian Super League (ISL) side Kerala Blasters Football Club, according to a report in Goal.com.
However, neither the Lulu group nor the Kerala Blasters Management have confirmed the development.
Tendulkar, who has a 20 per cent share, has been associated with the Blasters ever since the ISL’s inception in 2014. He was a star presence in many of Blasters’ home matches at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi.
The Lulu Group has also bought out the 80 per cent share held by Hyderabad-based media and entertainment house Prasad Group in the franchise.
The Lulu Group’s retail chain of LuLu Hypermarkets and Supermarkets has more than 100 stores in the Middle East. The company has an annual turnover of more than USD6.9 billion.
Kerala Blasters, who finished as runners-up in 2014 and 2016, is being coached by former England goalkeeper David James. The squad is currently in Thailand for pre-season training.
Kerala Blasters take on ATK in the inaugural match of ISL 5 in Kolkata on September 29. The Blasters are slated to play Mumbai City FC in their opening home match on October 5.
―via Onmanorama
