#KnowYourTeam: Real Kashmir FC- I-League's surprise package of the season
What's the story
Real Kashmir have proved to be an unstoppable force in their very first I-League season.
Currently, the team are third on the league table with 25 points, and are playing some of the finest football this season has seen.
Their solid defense has made it difficult for opponents to score, while their intelligent attacking play has yielded consistent results.
Here's all about them.
Players
Who are some of the finest players in the team?
Kashmir, by far, has the best defense in the league and have conceded just seven goals in 13 matches.
Mason Robertson has proved to be a solid defender, and interestingly, is the son of current coach David Robertson.
Aaron Katebe and Loveday Enyinnaya have also been wonderful defenders for Kashmir.
Abednego Tetteh has been a valuable addition in their attacking ranks.
Qualification
Kashmir's story of qualifying to top-flight football
Real Kashmir is the first football outfit from their state who have played on foreign soil, doing so in Scotland.
They won the 2nd Division of the I-League last season, which gave them the qualification to top-flight football for the first time.
Kashmir defeated Hindustan FC with a scoreline of 3-2 to achieve this, becoming the first Kashmiri team to play first division football.
Coach
A talented coach has helped bolster their I-League performance
Real Kashmir's coach, David Robertson, is a talented footballer himself, having won the Scottish Premier Division six times as a player.
When Robertson first arrived in Kashmir, he was reluctant to take on the job due to lack of proper infrastructure.
However, his stay has paid off in a big way, and Robertson has now said he wants to continue as their coach.
Owners
Real Kashmir owners bring a message of peace and harmony
Notably, Real Kashmir was founded in 2016 by a Kashmiri Pandit, Sandeep Chattoo, and Shamim Mehraj, a Muslim.
Their aim is to make the club dear to all Kashmiris and motivate the youth towards taking up sports.
Given the state oppression and militancy in Kashmir, perhaps football can bring people together and send a message of peace.
Kudos to Real Kashmir for trying that.