Footballer Rijohn Jose passed away following a road accident at the Gandhi Road Flyover in Kozhikode on Sunday night (September 21, 2026). He was 29 and played as a defender for Calicut FC in the Super League Kerala.

Another player, Gani Ahammed Nigam, was with Rijohn at the time of the accident and is undergoing treatment. He has sustained no serious injuries, according to a release from Calicut FC.

Rijohn, who belonged to Olur (Thrissur) was part of the Calicut FC that emerged as the champion in the inaugural edition of the Super League Kerala in 2024. Before joining the Kozhikode-based club, he had played for Sreebhumi FC, George Telegraph SC, FC Deccan and Forca Kochi FC.

The over dependence on foreign players in domestic leagues is hampering the growth of Indian football, according to Ian Andrew Gillan, the newly appointed head coach of Thiruvananthapuram Kombans FC during an interaction with the media here on Monday evening.

“In all domestic leagues in India including the ISL and IFL, the key players are foreign stars. This hinders the development of Indian players. The main objective of these leagues should be to nurture the Indian players,’’ said Gillan who guided Calicut FC to the title in the inaugural edition of Super League Kerala (SLK).

Gillan pointed out that SLK was different from other leagues in this regard as the onus was on player development.

“The SLK rule that mandates two native under-23 players in the playing XI helps in their development and creates players of international standards. I talk from my own experience.

“I remember an under-23 player who played for Calicut FC figuring in the ISL, the top tier league in the country, in the same season and it represents his growth as well as that of SLK. If I find an Indian player better than a foreign player for a certain position, I will definitely play him,’’ he said.

The 61-year-old Scottish-Australian coach. who has had coaching stints in Australia, England, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia and Nepal, said Kombans will not disappoint their fans and will be keen to improve their poor home record this season.

“From the little time I spent with the boys, I feel we have a squad that is strong enough to face any challenge. I assure the Kombans fans that they will give their 100 percent this season. As far as tactics goes, it will be flexible depending on the opponents and the situation we are in, ‘’ he said.

The Thiruvananthapuram Kombans, which fielded foreign players mostly from Brazil in the first two seasons, will have a multi-national roster this time and will open its campaign against Gillan’s former club Calicut FC in an away match in Kozhikode on September 26.

The monsoon is around the corner. But its precursor is here, and it announced its presence in a rather emphatic manner here on Sunday night.

Strong rain lashed the final of the Kerala Premier League football tournament at the Corporation Stadium.

In the clash between two Kozhikode-based clubs, Gokulam Kerala FC and Calicut FC, it rained goals, too. And it was Gokulam that won 3-2 to regain the trophy it last bagged five years ago.

Gokulam was the deserving winner as Calicut had to play catch up right through the title contest.

The Calicut men were stunned by Mohamed Bilal’s devastating twin strike within the first five minutes.

A goal from Ameen eight minutes before the interval — his third in two matches — had given them hope, but they suffered another setback when Muhammed Sinan made it 3-1 for Gokulam.

Substitute Rifhath Ramzan’s goal in injury time — a header off a corner-kick — came too late for Calicut. It only made the final score more respectable.

Earlier, Gokulam’s first goal came off a superb pass down the left flank by Sinan, who beat the defence to set up Bilal. Just three minutes later, a long ball by Aman Gaikwad from well inside Gokulam’s half found Bilal in the thick of the action once again.

The Gokulam men may have struggled in the Indian Football League this season, but they were not going to squander a two-goal lead on the night.

The result: Final: Gokulam Kerala FC 3 (Mohamed Bilal 2, 5, Muhammed Sinan 72) bt Calicut FC 2 (Ameen 37, Rifhath Ramzan 90+4).