Telugu biggies on board Sachin’s Kerala Blasters

​Thiruvananthapuram: Sachin Tendulkar was on Wednesday joined by some of the biggest names in South Indian film industry, including Chiranjeevi and Nagarjuna, as co-owners of Indian Super League football side Kerala Blasters.

A consortium of investors, including megastars Chiranjeevi and Akkineni Nagarjuna, leading film producer Allu Aravind and industrialist and serial entrepreneur Nimmagadda Prasad have joined hands to buy stake in Blasters Sports Private Limited, the owners of Kerala Blasters.

The new investors in Kerala Blasters were unveiled at a ceremony here. Tendulkar will continue to be a co-owner with Kerala Blasters, holding a significant stake, a media release said.

The new co-owners of Kerala Blasters were responsible for the turnaround of MAA Television Network Ltd. They recently unlocked value in the broadcast bouquet of the network with the sale of its four Telugu entertainment channels to Star TV Network.

Kerala Blasters franchise is the first investment in the growing sports business in the country for this consortium. In a symbolic gesture, Tendulkar, Chiranjeevi, Nagarjuna, Allu Aravind and Nimmagadda Prasad signed a football sporting the Kerala Blasters logo.

Earlier in the day, Tendulkar and all the new co-owners met Kerala Chief Minister Pinnarayi Vijayan at the Secretariat. They also had a meeting with Kerala Football Association President KMI Mather. Commenting on the development, Tendulkar said, “I welcome Chiranjeevi, Nagarjuna, Allu Aravind and Prasad to this exciting experience and the love millions of followers have for Kerala Blasters.”

Chiranjeevi said, “All of us in Kerala Blasters are committed to expanding the sport’s football base provide a platform to the budding talent.” Nagarjuna echoed similar sentiments.

Source:PTI