Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, who partly owns the Kochi franchise of the Indian Football Super League, has named the Kochi team 'Kerala Blasters' Football Club’.

Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy announced the name of the club after discussions with Tendulkar at the State secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday morning. Tendulkar accepted the Chief Minister's request that he be the Goodwill Ambassador for the 35th edition of the National Games scheduled to be held in Kerala early next year.

Tendulkar also called on Leader of the Opposition V.S. Achuthanandan, who lauded his efforts to promote football after having excelled as a cricketer. The entire population of Kerala would stand by him in his efforts, Mr. Achuthanandan said.