Neighbours Kerala and Karnataka will have to keep their friendships aside as they meet each other in the semifinals of the 75th Santosh Trophy national football championship at the Payyanad Stadium in Manjeri on Thursday.
Karnataka have four players from Kerala in their ranks while their head coach Biby Thomas Muttath has been friends with Bino George, the coach of the hosts, since their childhood. But both coaches said that the friendship will be kept outside the field as the two sides fight for a place in the final.
"We've known each other since our childhood. We have talked a lot of football and shared our ideas. But, I will try to keep him guessing how we will approach the semifinal on Thursday and I am sure he will also do the same," said Biby, who has kept a keen eye on Kerala football and knows the opposition well.
"We have played football together in Thrissur and know each other very well. Karnataka will be a strong team. They have players who have the experience of competing in the Bangalore Super Division and have played together for a while," said Bino, the former Gokulam Kerala head coach.
Hosts Kerala had booked their semifinal berth as Group A winners collecting 10 points from four games. They are the only team yet to taste a defeat in the tournament and are strong favourites to lift the trophy in front of their home crowd.
Meanwhile, Karnataka's trip to the semifinals has not been straightforward. They had to defeat Gujarat 4-0 in their final group fixture to edge Odisha and progress as Group B runners-up with seven points along with Manipur.
Biby said Kerala playmaker Arjun Jayaraj and captain Jijo Joseph are the two players he thinks possess the biggest threat to Karnataka. "But we cannot just focus on one or two players, because Kerala have quality all over the field. But my players know their roles very well," he said.
"We have players who are playing in the Santosh Trophy for the very first time and there are young players who have never played in front of such crowds. But I am confident they will consider this a great opportunity to win this trophy in front of our own people," said Bino.
