Gokulam Kerala has almost turned into a household name in Indian football in recent years, both in men's and women's divisions, for the loads of success they have enjoyed. The women’s team has been the most successful side in women’s football in the country with three consecutive IWL wins since their first title success in the 2019-20 season. The Malabarians also became the first club to represent India in the AFC Women's Club Championship, Asia’s premier club competition in women’s football.
Continuing on their sheer dominance in the league, Gokulam Kerala will hope for more silverware in the 2023/24 season as asserted by their star coach Anthony Andrews. The club enjoyed their last two IWL success under host tenure and also had him in the dugout during their continental journey in 2021. Now in his third season in charge, Andrews opens up on the preparation of the team for the upcoming campaign which is expected to be revolutionary for women’s football in India.
“The preparation is going good so far,” Andrews shed light on the training for the new season, “We got 10 days with our National Team players before they left for the tour in Saudi Arabia (preparation for Olympics Qualifiers). Remaining players are training really hard with us.”
The think tank was also rewarded with a contract extension ahead of the season by Gokulam after helping the club complete the hat trick of honors in the IWL. Anthony Andrews shared his unconcealed feelings about committing to the club for further years. He looks forward to an exciting journey ahead building to his legacy at the club.
“It's truly an honor to extend my contract with this fantastic club, especially after winning the last two IWL titles. Completing the hat trick of honors is an exciting challenge and it will be a testament of our incredible players and staff who have believed in us for the season. I am filled with pride and determination to continue our journey to greatness. As a coach, I am committed to working even harder to bring more success to the club in the future. This is just the beginning of an exciting journey.”
While the new contract with Gokulam Kerala was a happy occasion for Andrews, the coach’s outstanding work for the club also caught the eyes of the national team before that. He was shortlisted for the vacant managerial role twice but it did not come off as the present coach of India, Thomas Dennerby was re-hired. The coach briefly spoke about his experience of being in the national focus.
“While the opportunity to coach the national team was certainly appealing, I believe everything happens for a reason. Making the shortlist was an honor, and it reaffirmed my commitment to coaching at the highest level. I am very thankful to all the people who believed in me and thought I would make a difference in the Team. My focus has always been to do my best for the players and staff who work with me, however, I'm excited to continue building the successes and striving for more with Gokulam Kerala FC.”
Two more years
Our women’s team head coach Anthony Andrews has extended his contract for two more years with Malabarians. Let’s win more together#GKFC #Malabarians pic.twitter.com/MiA80CX7rZ
Now with Gokulam Kerala central to his heart, Andrews is determined to leave a mark again in the new season. The pressure to deliver will be more than ever as the club has set standards even higher with a cluster of signings both in terms of foreigners and domestic recruits. The 2023/24 season will be tougher than ever but the coach will not want to leave any stone unturned to get the best out of his squad.
“The upcoming season is undoubtedly crucial, and I'm excited about the prospects, especially with the signings we've made, both internationally and domestically. We've built a team with young and experienced players which will help us in the long run and the competition will be fierce. But we're ready for the challenge. Our goal remains the same to bring more silverware to this club and make our supporters proud.”
The new arrivals to the team have been mesmeric with high-profile foreigners like Phoeby Okech and Hajar Dabbaghi from the Kenya and Iran national teams. Several local and national level talents, some also played in last year’s U17 Women’s World Cup in India, have also joined making the team a mixture of everything. The signings have been made to ensure the squad continues to work as a unit and not simply going for names. The same was resonated by Andrews as he refused to single out just one difference maker for the team.
“While it's difficult to single out one signing as the standout, I have to say that each addition to our squad this summer has brought something special. We've brought in experience, talent, and exciting young prospects. I believe the collective strength of the team is our greatest asset and it is the unity on the field that will define our success in the upcoming season.”
The incomings have been exciting indeed and will certainly help Gokulam Kerala in maintaining their stance for the new season. However, the Malabarians also had a shakeup in their squad this summer with two key contributors to the IWL title success - Sabitra Bhandari and Indumathi Kathiresan leaving the team. Golden Boot winner of last season and all-time top goal-scorer in the league, Sabitra Bhandari’s insane scoring numbers are hard to replicate while the league’s best player Indumathi’s service will also be missed. Hence, the 27-year-old coach is stressing on team's unity to fill up the void left by them if not replace their untouchable class.
“To fill the gap and the goals left by last season's Golden Boot winner, Sabitra Bhandari, we'll need a collective effort from the team as we did in our last season. We'll focus on improving the overall offensive strategy and involve other key players to step up and contribute more goals. Additionally, we may consider promoting talents from within the team to ensure we maintain our goal-scoring prowess.”
Coming to the competitions, Gokulam Kerala will participate in the AFC Club Championship for the second time. Their first participation was in 2021 when they picked up a historical victory but failed to progress to the latter round. The team also made it to the tournament last year as well although the FIFA ban imposed on AIFF at the same time meant the IWL winners had to pull out. The challenge will be fierce this time as Gokulam will face Urawa Red Diamonds from Japan’s WE League in the group who also have players that reached the quarterfinals of the Women's World Cup earlier this year. The other two, Huailen and Bangkok FC are not pushovers either. Andrews discussed the prospect of facing them.
“Participating in the AFC Club Championship for the second time is a testament to our growth and ambition as a club. Facing teams of such high calibre, like Urawa Red Diamonds, Huailen, and Bangkok FC, is a significant challenge. However, challenges are what make us better. We relish the opportunity to test our mettle against some of the world's best. We'll prepare meticulously, stay true to our style of play, and give it our all. These encounters will be a great learning experience for our team and a chance to prove ourselves on the international stage.”
Only the group winners will qualify for the final of the Club Championship. That makes the chances of progression difficult. Undoubtedly, Gokulam Kerala will be the underdogs facing these high-quality oppositions in their group. Anthony Andrews also understands the level of competition the team is going to face but at the same time encourages them to give their best performance on the continental stage.
“In a competition of this magnitude, every team is well-prepared and highly competitive. As the IWL winners, we might be seen as underdogs in this group, but that doesn't mean we lack ambition. Our target is to make the best impact possible and progress as far as we can. We'll take it one match at a time, and our goal is to showcase the quality of women's football in India on the international stage. While the challenges are significant, our determination and team spirit can be our greatest assets in this tournament.”
While the AFC Club Championship is a tough ask for this side, Gokulam will be the favourite to win their domestic league once again. They have been the undisputed queens of the IWL and will not be letting their guard down anytime soon. However, this time the competition will be played in a proper league format stretching over months and not weeks like the earlier editions. More importantly, the matches will be played home and away basis. Gokulam will have to travel almost the entire stretch of the country for away games. How much will this be a challenge to maintain consistency and dominance in the league going through these unprecedented changes?
Andrews answers, “The new format of the IWL, with a proper league stretching over months and home and away matches, is indeed a welcome change. It will present a unique challenge for us as we travel across the country. Maintaining consistency and dominance throughout the season will require meticulous planning, strong teamwork, and mental resilience. But it's a challenge we embrace, and we're excited to demonstrate our ability to perform consistently at the highest level. Our focus is not just on winning but on delivering an entertaining and competitive league for the fans.”
There is no denying that Anthony Andrews has come into the spotlight for his success in the IWL but his achievements came way before. Doing coaching at a younger age, he has found equal if not more success managing various youth teams. We asked him about the greatest moment among many in his career but staying true to himself, Andrews finds each of them as special for his work for the game.
“It's difficult to pick just one moment from my career because each title win and achievement has been special in its own way. The IWL wins were certainly remarkable, but my time with the Minerva, ARA, PIFA, and Rebels FC laid the foundation for my coaching journey. What truly makes my career fulfilling is the growth and development of the players and teams I've worked with. I cherish the journey, the learning, and the joy of seeing young talent flourish, perhaps even more than the titles.”
We at Chase Your Sport wish Anthony Andrews all the best for the upcoming season and hope his Gokulam Kerala side makes the nation proud again.
