Geneva-based United World Group has recently completed the takeover of Kozhikode-based football team Calicut Quartz FC rechristening it as Kerala United FC. United World Group is familiar to football followers as the owners of the English Premier League team Sheffield United, Belgian Pro League team Beerschot, and UAE based Al-Hilal United.
“United World Group is pleased to announce that we have acquired Calicut Quartz in the I-League 2nd Division in India,” the group said in an official announcement. “Our vision is to make Kerala United a competitive, community-based football club playing at the highest level of Indian football. Through hard work, commitment, and unrivalled support from our fans, we are confident of achieving great things. Our focus will be on cementing and strengthening the foundation of the club, building an academy and developing homegrown players,” added Abdullah Al-Ghamdi —CEO of United World.
It has been reported that the club has reached an agreement with twenty players and the team will begin preparations for the upcoming season from the first week of December.
Calicut Quartz FC (now Kerala United FC) was founded in 1976 in Kozhikode. Over the years, the club started growing from district level and made it all the way to the national stage. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) certified the Kozhikode-based team to participate in the Second Division of the I-league. However, the team did not make it to the next tier. With the recent developments, the fans hope to see the team reach new heights.
Football runs deep in the veins of Malayalis. Having a huge and passionate football fan base and the abundance of talent coming from the state every year, it can be said that the takeover of Calicut Quartz FC by the United World Group, could be a good investment in the long term. The management will be looking forward to developing and nurturing young footballers in Kerala.
