Kerala Blasters cancel pre-season tour of UAE due to financial reasons

The Blasters will be returning to India on Wednesday.

In a shocking turn of events, ISL outfit Kerala Blasters have decided to not continue their pre-season tour of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and will be returning to India on Wednesday. The decision comes after the primary sponsors of the event, Michi Sports, failed to raise the necessary funds, which led to inadequate transportation facilities, along with other logistical problems during the Blasters' stay in the country.

The incident has also forced Emirates First Business Service, one of UAE's top business management consultant services, to terminate their association as title sponsors of the Indian Super League outfit's pre-season tour, which was supposed to take place between September 6-24.

 Statement regarding the cutting short of Kerala Blasters' pre-season tour of the UAE

Michi Sports, who setup Kerala Blasters' pre-season tour in the UAE failed to offer the club good quality facilities, as they had stated in the agreement. The Blasters reached UAE on September 4 and played just a single match (against Dibba Club, Al Fujairah), which means the club did not complete even a week's stay in the Gulf country.

World-class facilities were promised by the organizers, who failed to live up to their words from the getgo, Khel Now understands.  The team, along with the support staff had to face a dire situation regarding transportation. The team's head coach Eelco Schatorrie even had to use the car of a fan to reach the stadium for their first and only pre-season game on the tour. 

 

Kerala  Blasters' statement regarding the cancellation of their pre-season tour 

Kerala Blasters issued a statement wherein they stated that Michi Sports failed to  abide by the agreement and that has resulted in the club canceling their tour of the UAE. The club also acknowledged their fans in the country, who came in large numbers to support the team in their first pre-season game in Dubai

Following the team's return to Kerala on Wednesday, the management is planning to continue their pre-season practice by organizing friendlies with local teams until the the season kicks off.

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The Blasters have had a delightful summer until now, as they brought in Dutchman Schatorrie at the helm and also made some big signings such as Bartholomew Ogbeche, Bilal Khan, Jairo Rodrigues, Mario Arques, Sergio Cidoncha and Gianni Zuiverloon, ahead of the 2019-2020 campaign.

Kerala Blasters take on Kolkata side ATKFC in the inaugural match of the season in Kochi on 20th October.