David Catala praises "This ISL youngster" ahead of ISL 2025-26 season opener

Samannay Sen

Modified - Feb 13, 2026, 09:34 AM

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David Catala praises "This ISL youngster" ahead of ISL 2025-26 season opener

Summary

ISL 2025-26 begins with Mohun Bagan vs Kerala Blasters at Yuba Bharati Krirangan.
David Catala praised young captain Bikash Yumnam, saying age doesn’t matter in leadership.
Kerala Blasters aim to challenge the reigning champions in the season opener.

As the ISL 2025-26 season, finally gets underway following months of controversy in Indian football, reigning champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant will lock horns with Kerala Blasters in the season opener at the iconic Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata.

Both teams are gearing up for what promises to be another thrilling campaign. Fans are eagerly waiting to see their favourite sides back in action after a long break, and the excitement surrounding the curtain-raiser is palpable.

Ahead of tomorrow’s clash, Kerala Blasters head coach David Catala and midfielder Danish Farooq addressed the media.

Catala heaped praise on Indian U23 captain Bikash Yumnam, making it clear that age plays no role in his decision-making when it comes to leadership.

Kerala Blasters' coach David Catala addressed the press conference

“He is still very young and one of the youngest captains in the ISL. But for me, age is not a problem,” Catala said.
“To be captain, it doesn’t matter if you are older or younger. The most important thing is the capacity to lead the team. I see in him a strong personality.
He is a very young player, but you can see on the pitch that he has the personality to lead. This is what I want from my players.
So it doesn’t matter to me if he is young. I need players with personality, and of course, Bikash is one of them.”

The Spanish tactician also expressed mutual respect for Mohun Bagan, acknowledging their recent achievements and consistency.

Kerala Blasters will aim to give the Green and Maroon Brigade a tough challenge as Indian football comes alive once again with the start of the new ISL season.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When is the ISL 2025-26 opener of Mohun Bagan vs Kerala Blasters?

The ISL 2025-26 season opener between Mohun Bagan Super Giant and Kerala Blasters will be played on February 14th 2026 at the Yuba Bharati Krirangan (Salt Lake Stadium), Kolkata.

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