Vijayan and Lalchhandami driven to take 'Gokulam back where it belongs'

Gokulam Kerala have long been one of the defining forces in Indian women's football. With three Indian Women's League (IWL) titles to their name, the Malabarians have set standards for domestic excellence and played a significant role in developing players for the national team.

However, the landscape has changed considerably in recent seasons. That said, the upcoming 2026-27 season presents an opportunity for Gokulam to reclaim the throne.

As the new IWL season gets underway on November 13, Gokulam will have little time to ease into the campaign. They face defending champions East Bengal in the opening match at the Kalyani Stadium, setting up an immediate test of their title credentials.

Building a competitive Gokulam

Head coach Raman Vijayan, who transitioned to the women's game after more than a decade working in men's football and youth development, believes the club has assembled a competitive squad capable of challenging for the title.

"Before I joined, the team had already been assembled with whatever resources were available. The first phase was a little challenging, but in the second phase, once I understood the players and their abilities, we managed to make them stronger," Vijayan told The Bridge.

Having spent over a decade working with men's teams and youth programmes, the former India international striker found himself navigating an unfamiliar developmental landscape when Gokulam's management approached him.

The biggest challenge, he explained, was understanding the differences in the grassroots and youth development structures between men's and women's football.

"It was quite difficult for me initially to understand the women's game. It took me two to three months because the grassroots and youth development programmes are very well organised for men. When you compare that with women's football, the structures are not as developed. I had to start from the beginning," he said.

His ambitions for Gokulam also extend beyond domestic silverware.

"Producing players for the country is also our responsibility. If you look at Gokulam's history, we have always had international and national team players representing the club. This year, too, we have five players currently in the national team. That is one of our major responsibilities every season," he said.

 A changing IWL landscape

For several seasons, Gokulam were the standard against which other IWL teams were measured. Their dominance, however, has increasingly been challenged by clubs investing in their women's teams and building more competitive squads.

Vijayan, though, views the growing competition as a positive development rather than a threat to Gokulam's standing.

"Earlier, only one or two teams had a bunch of good players, while the rest were not very competitive. But now, the IWL is very tough. Even East Bengal, despite being a strong side, cannot win matches easily because all the teams have established themselves," he said.

He also pointed to the growing number of clubs developing teams around players from their respective regions, describing it as an encouraging sign for Indian women's football.

"Players want to play for their own home teams. That is a very good sign. East Bengal have a bigger vision, a strong fan base and special sponsors to support their women's team. We are also a big club, and we want to compete with them healthily to help Indian football grow."

Gokulam's opening fixture against East Bengal will, therefore, offer an early indication of where both sides stand.

"They are a very strong side. They have very good foreign players, and we know their strengths. But at the same time, we also have a very good, balanced side that can face them. We are looking forward to a healthy and competitive game," he said, adding that the squad had come through pre-season without any major injury concerns.

'Here to bring Gokulam back where it belongs'

For Captain Baby Lalchhandami, the responsibility of leading a club with Gokulam's history comes with its own expectations.

Having witnessed the club and the IWL evolve over the years, she believes the biggest change has been the increasing competitiveness of the league.

"Every team is stronger now. Earlier, there would be one team at the top of the table, and no other team could defeat them. But now, any team can beat any other team at any time," Lalchhandami told The Bridge.

Capri Sports' 15-year partnership with the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to market and commercially develop the IWL and IWL 2 represents a significant long-term investment in the women's club game.

For Lalchhandami, one of the most encouraging aspects is the prospect of greater visibility for players through the league's free YouTube broadcasts.

"I think with new sponsors coming in through Capri, more matches being broadcast and more people watching us play, it is a very good sign for football and for us players to develop," she said.

Gokulam's recent title drought has also added to the pressure ahead of the new campaign. But Lalchhandami believes the club's identity and fighting spirit remain intact.

"There is pressure because of what Gokulam has achieved in the past. But with all the hard work we have put in during pre-season, I think we have a chance to win the league. We are here to bring Gokulam back where it belongs. The team has heart, and we are young players. You will be able to see that on the pitch," she said.

Preparing with learnings from the past 

One of the lessons Gokulam have taken from their previous encounters against East Bengal is the need to be more proactive.

"When we faced East Bengal last season, I think we were too focused on our defensive game. This season, we will try to fix the mistakes we made previously. We have learned a lot from those matches, and I think we are very well prepared to face them. We will not go down easily," she said.

As captain, Lalchhandami is also conscious of the responsibility of setting the tone within a young squad. Her message, however, is centred on patience and collective effort.

"I will take up the responsibility with pride. We have to take each match one at a time. For the fans, I would like to say: please continue supporting us, and not just Gokulam, but the whole of women's football."

Beyond the immediate title race, both Vijayan and Lalchhandami see the development of Indian women's football as a responsibility shared by clubs, administrators and commercial stakeholders.

For Lalchhandami, greater exposure could be one of the biggest catalysts for the next phase of growth.

"Many players don't have a proper CV or videos that they can show to get scouted easily. Now that matches are being broadcast on YouTube, which is very accessible, I think it is going to help us a lot," she said.

For Gokulam, however, the immediate focus remains on the pitch.

"Success for me would not just be about the wins. It would be about the experience I have with my teammates, the staff and the coaches. It would be a successful season if I had fun throughout," she concluded.