F. C. Kochin is a Kochi based football club in India. It is located in the state of Kerala. In the later phase of 1990s and early years of 2000s, F. C. Kochin was the sole flag bearer of football teams from the state of Kerala in the National Football League. Although, in the recent times we see that with success the team is doing exceedingly well. Kochin plays at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kaloor, Cochin. It is the first Indian professional football club.
Objective of FC Kochin
The main objective of the F. C. Kochin club is to develop and promote the sports culture in Kerala. It also aims at the development and promotion of football in a professional way and to contribute to the youth and sport development programs being envisioned by the state and the country. To a great extent, this football club has also succeeded in the attainment of its objective. In only few years of its existence, it has come up with new talents of international standard and also raised the level of awareness and professionalism in the arena of football in the state.
Management of FC Kochin
The successful management of the club and team is done in the guidance of FC Kochin Trust with Mr. P.V. Paul as the Managing Trustee and Mr. Thomas Kannookadan & Mr. T.U. Davis as trustees. The head office of the F. C. Kochin is at Kaloor, Kochi. Mr. Paul Varghese is the chief Patron of the club and Mr. K.J.Varoo, the Manager. Late Mr. M.P.Kurian was the founder Chairman of the FC Kochin Trust and late Mr. M.K.Joseph was the founder Chairman of the FC Kochin Limited Company.
FC Kochin in National Football League
The club`s rise and decline have been swift. In the first six months of its creation in 1997, it won the country`s oldest football championship, the Durand Cup, by beating the country`s oldest club, Mohun Bagan, and also reached the finals of three major tournaments. When the first NFL was formed, FCK finished fourth. FC Kochin has contributed substantially to the advancement of Kerala football within its short span. The most prestigious achievement so far for FC Kochin has been winning the Durand Cup in New Delhi in 1997. FC Kochin has also put up a consistent performance in the National Football League.
Turmoil in FC Kochin
At the end of 2000-01 seasons, the club was in a huge turmoil. There was no sponsorship money coming in to the club and the Indian Football Federation had still not paid them for their participation and their fourth place finishes in the last two leagues. With no money good players started leaving the club. Vijayan and Anchery left for JCT, Sunday and Grey left for Churchill brothers. The management tried to bring some life in to the club by bringing an ex Czech international goalkeeper Karel Stromsik as the coach and some Brazilian players. But without money or good players Stromsik could not do anything and he left the club halfway through the season, saying not even Sir Alex Fergusson could save this team from relegation. The management could not then afford to appoint a new coach and the role was then taken over by one of the Brazilian players in the club at that time.
Achievements and Awards of FC Kochin
FC Kochin has contributed substantially to the advancement of Kerala football in a very limited period of time. FC Kochin has also been a consistent performer in the National Football League. This football club has also been the winner of the Kerala State League several times and also the winner of Kerala State Championship. The FC Kochin club also won the Central Railway Open in 1998 and the All India Central Revenue Cup in 1998.
In their first season with the help of some good local players like I.M Vijayan and Jopaul Anchery and some African players they won the South Zone Federation Cup but were denied an opportunity to play in the National Federation cup because the Indian Football Federation said that it was against regulations to allow a team in their debut season to play in the Federation cup. They also won the Durand cup (kind of like the Indian version of the league cup) in 1997, their debut year, beating BSF. FC Kochin won the Kerela State League in the year 1998 and 1999. In the year 2004, FC Kochin became runners up in the same competition. In the year 1997, FC Kochin won the Kerela State Championship.