Gokulam Kerala bolster defence by signing fullback Muhammed Rafi from SC Delhi

The defender missed the entire 2025-26 season with SC Delhi due to an ACL injury.

The Kerala fullback from Muvattupuzha, Muhammed Rafi, has put pen on paper to make a move out of the national capital, Delhi, to join Indian Football League outfit Gokulam Kerala.

A tactically versatile defender, Rafi has previously plied his trade with Hyderabad SC and SC Delhi in the Indian Super League (ISL). He honed his skills early on during his youth days in the Bengaluru FC reserves team.

Due to his ACL injury concerns, he failed to make even a single appearance for Tomas Tchorz’s side and was sidelined in the entire 2025-26 season. He is making a comeback after a gruelling injury, as he left Delhi as a free agent and will be keen to make an impact in the upcoming season with Gokulam Kerala.

In this article, we take a closer look at how Rafi’s addition in the squad can give a massive boost to the two-time former I-League champions, seeking redemption after narrowly escaping relegation last season.

Can Rafi solve Gokulam Kerala’s defensive fragilities?

Gokulam Kerala were on the brink of relegation from the Indian Football League last season. During the 2025-26 IFL season, Gokulam’s backline conceded 21 goals over a short season and suffered heavy losses including a 6-2 defeat against Real Kashmir.

Rafi provides a natural and a positionally disciplined centre back presence. The new IFL rules from AIFF mandate teams to field a maximum of three foreign players and a presence of a strong Indian defender allows Gokulam to freely use their foreign slots on attackers and midfielders.

Gokulam frequently changes defensive shapes based on oppositions and Rafi’s positional versatility allows him to play a central defender as well as a right back.

Gokulam rely on promoting homegrown local talents from Kerala

Gokulam’s core philosophy relies heavily on promoting and fielding top Kerala talents. Rafi was originally discovered by the Malabarians while he was playing for the MA College team in the Kerala Premier League.

Rafi follows the trajectory of local players using Gokulam as a major stepping stone in their path to success.. Players like Emil Benny and Jithin MS were both plucked from local setups before making a move to the Indian top flight.

Two-time champions Gokulam had a catastrophic season in Indian Football League last season. They were just few seconds away before getting relegated to the third division. As they eye making a strong comeback and securing promotion to the Indian Super League, Rafi is set to play a major role.

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