'Control the controllables': Inter Kashi Manager, Carlos Vaz Pinto’s mantra ahead of ISL opener
Inter Kashi FC will host Kerala Blasters FC in Pune for their ISL 2026-27 season opener.
After a multitude of problems in the pre-season for Indian Super League team, Inter Kashi FC, will face Kerala Blasters FC in their season opener. The Varanasi outfit brought along many changes ahead of the new MG ISL 2026-27 season.
One of the biggest developments for the team has been their recruitment of Portuguese manager Carlos Vaz Pinto. Carlos has previous experience of Indian football, as he has had two stints with Sreenidi Deccan in the I-League.
A big talking point for the team have been their new signings that include, Albino Gomes, Laldinliana Renthlei, Pratik Chaudhari, Leewan Castanha, Hitesh Sharma, Jitendra Singh, Sreekuttan V S, Ayush Chhikara & Thoi Singh Huidrom. Out of their registered 22-player squad, 16 are new signings for Inter Kashi.
Inter Kashi also finally decided on their home venue for the upcoming 2026-27 MG ISL season. The Varanasi based team will play their home games at the Sree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Balewadi, Pune.
Ahead of their opening match against Kerala Blasters on 11th October, the new manager Carlos Vaz Pinto addressed the media along with long time Inter Kashi forward Sumeet Passi. Here is what they had to say.
“I have to focus on the things I can control”
Catch Every Update, Anytime, Anywhere
Inter Kashi FC head coach Carlos Vaz Pinto addressed a handful of journalists in Pune on Saturday evening. At that point, he was yet to have a look at the playing surface for Sunday’s ISL 2026-27 game against Kerala Blasters FC. His second training session with the team was scheduled for later that evening.
Given the circumstances on the eve of a season opener, any coach would be a tad worried. However, Pinto appeared calm and composed. He knows there are things beyond his control, and there is little he can do about them. Instead, he is focusing on what he can control.
“As a coach, I have to focus on the things I can control. We cannot improve the fitness levels of the players in two days. They are all professionals and have been doing individual workouts before joining us, but that is different from training with the team,” Vaz said.
“What I have tried to do in these two days is work on the general principles of the team and explain what I want from them. There has been more verbal communication, more discussions and more videos. Because if I try to do everything in two days, the players might not even be physically ready to play tomorrow.”
With barely two training sessions at his disposal, the Portuguese tactician has prioritised getting his side’s tactical shape right, particularly its defensive organisation.
“Our focus has been on tactical organisation, especially defensive organisation, because we have to build a new team and we have to start from the back. Of course, we have also shared some attacking ideas, and we will work on a few more details,” he added.
“All of us are professionals”
Sumeet Passi, 32, is Kashi’s longest-serving player, having joined in September 2023. The forward was part of their 2024–25 I-League-winning campaign, which earned them promotion to the ISL, and will wear the captain’s armband.
Passi is banking on the experience of his teammates to see them through in the season opener, despite the team training only twice before the match.
“The coach’s ideas were very clear in the first session. We know that we have limited time, so we have to focus on what the coach wants us to do. All of us are professionals. We will gradually improve, but considering it was our first training session together, I think we did well,” Passi added.
When and where to watch
The match between Inter Kashi FC & Kerala Blasters FC will take place on October 11, 2026, Sree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Balewadi, Pune.
The match kicks off at 5:00 PM IST. The match will be shown live on Sony Ten 2 and Sony Ten 2 HD and will be available to stream digitally for free on YouTube.
When is Inter Kashi FC’s first match in the 2026-27 ISL season?
Inter Kashi will face off against Kerala Blasters FC on 11th October at the Sree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Balewadi, Pune.
Where to watch Inter Kashi FC vs Kerala Blasters FC?
Inter Kashi FC vs Kerala Blasters FC will be shown live on Sony Ten 2 and Sony Ten 2 HD and will be available to stream digitally for free on YouTube.
Who is the new Manager of Inter Kashi?
Carlos Vaz Pinto is the new Manager of Inter Kashi for their 2026-27 ISL campaign.
For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.