Gokulam Kerala’s new signings Alejandro Sanchez and Nili Perdomo share their initial experience in India

Gokulam Kerala are leaving no stone unturned to win the I-League and get a promotion to the Indian Super League. The Malabarians won back-to-back I-League titles in 2020-21 and in 2021-22 seasons. They suffered a slight setback last season and for that, they have recruited new foreign players.

The Malabarians have signed the Spanish duo of Nili Perdomo and Alejandro Sanchez to address their issues up front after they could only manage to score 26 goals in 22 I-League matches as they finished third last season.

Perdomo is extremely versatile with his playmaking skills and apart from his vast experience in Spain and Greece, Perdomo also had a brief stint in India with Bengaluru FC in the 2019-20 season. He made 10 appearances for the Blues in the ISL and the AFC Cup playoff match before the COVID-19 pandemic struck.

This is the second time I’ll be playing in India, and I’m really looking forward to my time here. I had played earlier with Bengaluru, but that time was cut short because of COVID,” said Perdomo to the-aiff.com. “Gokulam Kerala are certainly one of the bigger clubs in India, and I’ve heard a lot of good things about them from other Spanish players that had come here before, so when I learnt that they were interested in me, it was a quick decision.”

Just a week later, Alejandro Sanchez also joined the club and spent around 10 days with the team in the pre-season camp. He is raring to play in the Durand Cup which is a major part of their build-up to the I-League.

“This is my first time in India, and it’s been an amazing experience so far. It’s so different from Spain. I’ve really enjoyed my time in both Kozhikode and Kolkata,” said Sanchez. “I am still in the process of getting used to the life and culture here, but my teammates have been very helpful in that regard.”

The 34-year-old is from the Real Zaragoza youth system and has plied his trade for many other Spanish lower-division teams including CA Osasuna. He spent his last two seasons with Sydney Olympic FC.

The forward has his aim set as he wants Gokulam to play the ISL in the coming years. He is looking forward to scoring as many goals as possible. “I’ve heard a lot about India and of Gokulam Kerala as well, that it is one of the bigger clubs in the I-League. We obviously aim to reach the top level in ISL, and I’ll be trying to use all my experience to help the club get there,” said Sanchez. “On a personal level, I want to score as many goals as possible for my club and help them reach their target.”

India is gradually becoming an attractive destination for Spanish football for the last decade or so. So many Spanish greats have plied their trade in India. Perdomo believes that football in India is growing and their recent performances has helped the Spanish players make up their mind.

“From what I have seen, football is growing in the country. The National Team has been doing really well, and I was impressed with their recent wins in the SAFF Championship too,” said Perdomo. “I think India is steadily preparing to go to a higher level of football, which makes it very interesting. A lot of players from Europe are talking about coming here. The future is certainly bright.”

Sanchez who has also played in Australia believes that it is imperative for football to grow in Asia. “I’ve heard a lot about India from other Spanish players who have been here, it’s been growing at a fast pace and I certainly want to be a part of it. For the world of football, it is important that Asia, and more specifically, India keeps growing in the sport,” said Sanchez.

Gokulam Kerala will start their 2023 Durand Cup campaign against the Indian Air Force Football Team on August 9 in Kolkata.