Thiruvananthapuram. June 18, 2025.

Thiruvananthapuram Kombans Football Club is joining hands with Botafogo, one of Brazil’s most renowned football clubs. Riding the wave of their spectacular 2-1 victory over Seattle Sounders in the currently ongoing FIFA Club World Cup in the USA, Kombans formalised a Sister Club MOU with Botafogo through an online executed partnership. Both teams are jointly planning ambitious projects that will provide a major boost to football development in Kerala, especially in the capital district. This season, Botafogo, part of the prestigious Eagle Football Group, is gaining international attention through its strong performances after being crowned Champions of Brazil in 2024 for the first time since 1995.

The collaboration between Thiruvananthapuram Kombans FC, who showcased an impressive performance by reaching the semi-finals in the inaugural Super League Kerala with an all Brazilian foreign recruitment strategy, and Botafogo is part of a long term plan to elevate Kombans to international prominence. The aim of this partnership is to impart Botafogo’s world-renowned Brazilian football flair and expert coaching methods to Kombans FC’s rapidly growing community-based football training programs with an institutional support system.

Furthermore, this alliance opens up access to the Eagle Football Group’s multi-club network, which includes Olympique Lyonnais (France), Crystal Palace (England), and RWD Molenbeek (Belgium). The collaboration with Botafogo, hailing from Brazil where football has incredibly strong roots, is expected to significantly enhance Kombans FC’s football plans and to leverage on the strong football base that the coastal region of Trivandrum has. Following detailed discussions involving the managements of both clubs, the partnership was officially ratified earlier this week through an online signing ceremony.

“We are proud to embark on this partnership with Kombans FC,” said Thairo Arruda, CEO of Botafogo. “For us, this is a historic moment. It’s not just about football; it’s an effort to grow football in new territories like India and build cultural bridges. We believe Kerala has the potential to become a true football hub,” Arruda said.

“This partnership with Botafogo is a major milestone in fulfilling our mission to provide an international football experience for the youth of Kerala,” said K.C. Chandrahasan, Managing Director of Kombans FC. “Aligning this with Botafogo’s FIFA Club World Cup campaign comes at the most opportune time to accelerate grassroots football development through Kombans,” he added.

Key Features of the Partnership:

• Technical Cooperation: Kombans FC will gain access to Botafogo’s training methods, youth development programs, and phased international academic support.
• Global Exposure: This partnership opens up more opportunities within the Eagle Football Group’s multi-club network, which includes Olympique Lyonnais (France), Crystal Palace (England), and RWD Molenbeek (Belgium).
• Grassroots Development: Building on Kombans FC’s recently organized Soccer Summer School, which included over 500 children from 10 government schools in Thiruvananthapuram, this collaboration will be beneficial for school, community, and CSR-based football initiatives.
• Community-Based Football Development: Later this year, Kombans and Botafogo will jointly organize a five-day football training camp. This will be followed by local school leagues, corporate football matches, and digital learning and training programs.
• Player & Coach Development: Using the partnership to strengthen Kombans plans in the future events including SLK is also being looked into.

Strategic Link with the FIFA Club World Cup.

Botafogo’s participation and recent first match victory in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 will benefit Kombans in various areas. Both clubs will jointly plan activities to engage with football fans in Thiruvananthapuram through contributions to skill development, corporate events, and school-focused campaigns. Kombans FC and Botafogo will soon announce a detailed schedule for the football training camp, online school programs, and community activities planned for the latter half of this year.

About Kombans FC.

Kombans FC is a Thiruvananthapuram-based football club. They showcased an impressive performance by reaching the semi-finals in the inaugural Super League Kerala (SLK). The club focuses on school-level development, community-based football training, and strategic global partnerships to enhance Kerala’s football ecosystem.

About Botafogo.

Founded in 1904, Botafogo is a legendary Brazilian football club and the 2024 Brazilian National League Champion. As part of the Eagle Football Group, Botafogo is expanding its global presence alongside clubs like Olympique Lyonnais, Crystal Palace, and RWD Molenbeek, with the aim of fostering playing excellence and international cooperation.