Know Your Opponent ft. Inter Kashi

“Har Har Kashi”—The spirit of the the Inter Kashi football club is embodied in this slogan. Writing about Inter Kashi made me realise how clubs like these, with footballing history in their geographical background being negligible, deserve better writers than me. Being the first and the only fully professional and corporate-owned football club, Inter Kashi has set new standards not just for themselves but in the Indian football landscape! Sometimes you need true courage, not just a push from others, to do something groundbreaking.

Inter Kashi’s inception and entry into the professional world seems like some kind of movie plot that has its own share of hurdles. This club has recently been out of luck and in bad circumstances from the jump. No grassroots fan support, little to no home-grown players, and the biggest of all, no home stadium in their own city. Still, beating all the odds, they became the champions of the I-League and secured promotion to the Indian Super League — making it the first UP-based Club playing in the top flight of India, which is nothing short of cinematic! To truly know about the Club in detail, we need rewind the clocks of football history and go back in time.

Football Life before Inter Kashi in UP :

To start things off, Uttar Pradesh, the most populous state in India, did not have a pro football landscape before Inter Kashi. As a result, UP had no representation in professional football leagues. This resulted in a massive void and no organic local football craze to build upon. The small number of young individuals who took up football as their main sport had to pursue it in different states to make a career out of it.

However, all was not empty for the sport. Uttar Pradesh has a fully operational Football Association named Uttar Pradesh Football Sangh, which is responsible for sending the state team to the Santosh Trophy regularly with school and college players. However, due to a lack of infrastructure, modern coaching, and professional setups, it was difficult for them to ever make a mark. The junior teams and the age-group divisions of Uttar Pradesh winning the likes of the B.C. Roy Trophy in recent times and the Mir Iqbal Hussain Trophy show that even with low budgets and undercuts, they can still punch above their weight.

The rise of corporate entries in the National Football leagues was the need of the hour, as football in the most populous state needed representation. In 2023, the All India Football Federation tendered five corporate direct entries but only gave clearance for two. Of those two, one club was founded in the city of Kashi, backed by Kolkata-based corporate group RDB Group, Spanish footballing giant, Atlético de Madrid, and Andorran Club, Inter d'Escaldes. The club Inter Kashi was thus born, with the name tied to the latter football club.

Start of Something New, First I-League Season, and Super Cup Outing :

With a new club and fresh ambitions, the investors of Inter Kashi started to shape their squad with inclusions like Edmund Lalrindika, Mario Barco, Peter Hartley, Arindam Bhattacharya, and others. Inter Kashi also appointed good names to the backroom staff, like Carlos Santamarina and ex-Indian International Arata Izumi.

Inter Kashi was doing quite well in the process and started to look like a formidable force in their first season. In a historic fashion, they kicked off their footballing journey with a pre-season friendly against Bengal’s Emami East Bengal FC for their first professional match. They ended the match with a 2-2 draw against a team that would eventually go on to win that season’s Super Cup. Inter Kashi went on to play another ISL side, FC Goa, but eventually lost due to a lack of quality and experience. They ended their pre-season campaign with a win against a local Goan club, Pax Nagoa, to settle themselves for the I-League.

Inter Kashi started their campaign against I-League heavyweights Gokulam Kerala FC in Kozhikode. Edmund Lalrindika became their first goalscorer in the I-League, and Inter Kashi eventually went on to draw the match 2-2, giving an immense fight against a steady I-League side and winning the respect of the lot. Though they went on to lose their next match against a quality Sreenidi Deccan side with a consolation Mario Barco goal, they bounced back sooner than you'd expect.

Guess who’s back! Inter Kashi turned things around and won against their fellow newcomers Namdhari FC in a thrilling 4-2 match. Namdhari took the lead early, but Carlos Santamarina’s side stood strong and made a comeback to get all three points, earning their first professional league win to announce themselves in the circuit. Inter Kashi then pulled off a giant-killing by beating Churchill Brothers 2-1 in Vasco, Goa, with a stunner from veteran Jackichand Singh.

In the midst of all these good things, Inter Kashi didn't have a home stadium ; all of their home matches had to be played in Kalyani, West Bengal — miles away from their base. This made an already non-footballing area less appealing, as Uttar Pradesh doesn't have a FIFA-approved stadium to host their only pro football club. This is a concern that has been brewing, but all hope is not lost with the signs of the EKANA Arena nearing completion.

Inter Kashi had a mixed I-League run with two wins, three draws, and three losses leading up to the AFC Asian Cup. During that run, they had a huge game against Mohammedan SC on their own home turf, the EKANA Arena in Lucknow. Inter Kashi started the match with good tempo but couldn't hold off Mohammedan’s quality — who would be the eventual I-League champions, and lost by two goals in their first and only match played in Lucknow. Then the AFC Asian Cup break struck and, every ISL Club and five I-League clubs were featured in the Super Cup. Inter Kashi and Rajasthan United had to play an extra qualification round to reach the group stages. Inter Kashi secured a dominating 5-0 win with a Mario Barco brace and an Edmund goal to send them through.

Inter Kashi went on to have a tough Super Cup debut, as all of their opponents were ISL clubs operating on another level. However, they managed to draw with Bengaluru FC, which was quite a feat, as holding a powerhouse in Indian football is no child’s play. The Super Cup was a huge learning spree for IKFC.

They returned to the I-League after the break and lost to Gokulam Kerala 4-2 in Kalyani in an all-around disastrous performance, especially from the defence. But that performance was the turning point.

Inter Kashi went on an 11-match unbeaten streak and had a generational lock-in during the later stages of the league. They held Sreenidi Deccan and Mohammedan and won in dominating fashion against TRAU, NEROCA, Delhi FC, and Namdhari. Mario Barco scored 9 goals in the league, Edmund Lalrindika showed what he is actually capable of, and Inter Kashi ended the season in a highly respectable 4th place for a club founded only that year. Good days are coming, they say.

A Familiarly Unfamiliar Face, Old Ways, Brewing Court Cases, and Winning It the Second Time :

Inter Kashi started the 2024-25 season with quite a few surprises. Carlos Santamarina left the club, and Inter Kashi appointed ISL Shield winner, former Mohun Bagan Boss, and our very own 'Dadu', Antonio Lopez Habas. This was huge, as he had been relieved of his duties from Mohun Bagan—even after winning the ISL Shield for the first time—due to age concerns. Habas was certainly the man Kashi wanted for success in the league phase. The surprises continued as star Mohun Bagan midfielder Joni Kauko joined Inter Kashi on a free transfer, continuing the bolstering of the squad. Many followed soon after, like Nikola Stojanovic from Gokulam, upcoming prodigy Harmanpreet Singh from Namdhari, and David Humanes from the 4th tier of Spanish football.

Inter Kashi also had some significant outgoings in the form of Peter Hartley, Fran Gomez, Gyamar Nikum, Rakshit Dagar, and former Cape Verde International Gianni Dos Santos.

They started their pre-season again against East Bengal in Kolkata but lost 2-1. Kashi went on to play local clubs and academies from Bengal during the rest of the pre-season. In the meantime, they played Mohammedan SC and thrashed them 4-1, which was quite surprising considering Mohammedan was gearing up for the Indian Super League. Everything seemed to be going well for Habas’s newly assembled squad before entering the I-League promotion race.

The problem with Inter Kashi’s home stadium in Lucknow continued with the construction and clearance of EKANA. Kashi had to play all their home matches at the Kalyani Stadium in West Bengal, a massive bummer for all the upcoming fans rooting for their promotion to the ISL.

Inter Kashi officially started their 2024-25 season with the Durand Cup, but it was nothing too fancy for Kashi as Habas wasn't even on the sidelines. It featured a 1-1 draw with newly promoted ISL side Mohammedan, a 3-0 beating from an in-form Bengaluru FC, and a consolation 2-1 win against Indian Navy FT. Inter Kashi gathered 4 points, finishing in 3rd position, which was not enough to make it through the group stages.

They kicked off their I-League campaign with a close 1-0 win against SC Bengaluru. Edmund Lalrindika scored the only goal, making him one of the few I-League players to score on the first matchday in two consecutive seasons. Inter Kashi then thrashed Delhi FC 5-1, with new Moroccan signing Domi Berlanga scoring a hat-trick to announce his arrival. Now with Habas on the sidelines, the team looked completely different and promising. But Kashi hit a dip in form again early in the season; Habas’s boys dropped points against Lajong and Real Kashmir, and lost against another title contender, Churchill Brothers, who would become an interesting character in the following months.

Kashi bounced back against Sreenidi Deccan and Dempo Sports Club with brilliance from Mario Barco and Joni Kauko. But the real drama began here. Inter Kashi went to Ludhiana to play Namdhari in what should have been a routine league match. Namdhari initially won 2-0, but it was controversial. Kashi officials complained that Namdhari fielded an unregistered player. This was investigated by the AIFF, the match was declared null and void, and 3 points and 3 goals were awarded to Inter Kashi. But in true AIFF fashion, the decision was later reverted, and no points were given to either team. This was challenged by Inter Kashi at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). This wouldn't be the only case fought by Inter Kashi due to the AIFF's incompetence.

Inter Kashi then hit a rough patch, winning only two matches out of five and dropping points left and right. Habas and Kashi got back on track after beating Aizawl at home and managed to remain unbeaten until a controversial loss against Real Kashmir. The controversy wasn't on the field; Kashi lost the match 3-1 in Kalyani, but Real Kashmir demanded a points deduction as Kashi's Mario Barco was allegedly deregistered. This created yet another court case on top of the Namdhari saga.

The controversies just didn't stop. Inter Kashi then hosted Namdhari FC. Kashi won 3-2, with the controversial figure Mario scoring once. Namdhari officials immediately complained to the AIFF for player ineligibility, and the AIFF again voided the match and gave Namdhari 3 points. Which was, again, challenged by Inter Kashi in the CAS. I am losing count of the cases now.

In the meantime, Churchill Brothers were climbing to the top of the I-League and looking comfortable as Kashi, their only rival for the title, was getting robbed in broad daylight. Kashi, on the other hand, went unbeaten until the season decider against Churchill.

This was no ordinary match, as Churchill went all out as hosts. It was reported that Churchill was not accommodating Inter Kashi sportingly, failing to provide basic facilities and a training ground two days before the match. The heat was brewing. The AIFF brought match officials from Nepal in an attempt to make it fair. But nothing was fair in that match. It saw 8 yellow cards, 1 red card for Kashi, and a highly controversial goal scored by Churchill from a clear handball that was allowed by the referee. The match ended 2-2, making Churchill the eventual I-League champions on the pitch.

But you see, in true Indian football fashion, the actual cinema was just starting. Inter Kashi compiled all the cases against them and went to the CAS. Long story short, Kashi declared open war against the AIFF and Churchill Brothers. While celebrations in Margao were ongoing and the AIFF turned a blind eye, Inter Kashi quietly fought their cases in the CAS. Eventually, on July 18th, 2025, in a historic event, the Court of Arbitration for Sport cleared all the charges against Inter Kashi and restored the four points they needed to win the I-League, officially making them the Champions. The AIFF had to follow the CAS orders and strip Churchill of their championship to hand it to Inter Kashi.

This win was something to be proud of. As a neutral football fan, this was a win for the ages and set a standard on how to fight the bureaucracy that has hurt this sport in this country since its independence. It also made Antonio Lopez Habas one of the few coaches in India to win back-to-back league titles in different divisions.

Inter Kashi later participated in the April 2025 edition of the Super Cup. They pulled off an upset by comfortably beating ISL Finalist Bengaluru FC on penalties, but their inspiring run came to an end at the hands of Mumbai City FC, falling short by just a single goal.

A New Dawn, the First UP Club in the Top Division, and a Dip in Form :

In the current season, due to the uncertainty brewing in the top divisions of this country, Inter Kashi had no option but to lay low. Kashi saw significant outgoings, with names like Joni Kauko returning to his home country, Edmund Lalrindika moving to East Bengal for a 1.5 crore fee, and Nikola Stojanovic departing.

Inter Kashi started their season directly by entering the Super Cup in October. They missed Habas, as his commitments were only to be fulfilled once there was clarity regarding the Indian Super League. Kashi started their campaign with a hard-fought 2-2 draw over Northeast United FC, but then crashed out of the group stages against FC Goa and Jamshedpur. They simply couldn't withstand the sheer quality of the ISL sides, especially with little to no pre-season. Coach and strength & conditioning coach Antonio Santana tried his level best with a broken squad, but at the end of the day, with that level of uncertainty, you cannot do much.

The heartbreak continued in the Sikkim Gold Cup, as Kashi only reached the quarter-finals before being eliminated by Diamond Harbour FC. These were tough times, far below the expectations of the Kashi faithful.

Another gap of three-to-four months passed until the Indian Super League was announced to begin on February 14th. With this short certainty, Kashi signed some decent additions to their squad. Names like Lithuanian international Nauris Petkevičius, veteran Prabir Das, David Humanes, Jayesh Rane, and Rohit Danu were brought in to fill the gaps.

Currently, this season, Inter Kashi is sitting in 10th position, with only 3 wins, 2 draws, and 5 losses in total. Habas, a veteran of the ISL, has yet to unlock the team’s full potential and has been taking heat from the fans for clueless substitutions and shifting to a back four.

Tactical Approach of Inter Kashi :

As of writing this article, Antonio Lopez Habas has penned his resignation and left the club. Media reports suggest fellow Spanish assistant coach Carlos Fonseca will take charge against Mohun Bagan. But for the sake of this article and recent tactical trends, I will be focusing on Habas’s approaches.

Most of the readers of this website are Mariners, so we are well aware of our Dadu’s three-at-the-back system with a solid Indian CB core, which worked quite well during our first ISL Shield win. But due to the current squad and players, Habas shifted to a back-four system because of a lack of quality centre-backs. Interestingly, Inter Kashi is the only ISL club fielding a foreign goalkeeper, which is unusual, to say the least. The Narender Gahlot and David Humanes partnership has been working quite well for the backline, but the full-back situation with an aging Prabir Das and Nishu Kumar has been lacking a lot this season.

The midfield is nothing to write home about. CDM Sergio Llamas is the only quality man who can give Mohun Bagan a tough time through good ball recovery and driving runs. Otherwise, Indian players like Jayesh Rane and Sumeet Passi, who play a more box-to-box role, have been decent, but nothing on par with the quality Mohun Bagan possesses.

The forward situation is a more direct approach. Alfred Planas is the target man, supported by young prospect Rohit Danu, but like the rest of the team this season, it just isn't clicking. Rest assured, Inter Kashi's main goal this season is to survive relegation—which they likely will—and try not to do anything silly.

Key Players :

• Sergio Llamas: The lone warrior in the midfield zone, he holds an impressive CV for a player plying his trade in the second tier of Indian football. A through-and-through Alavés cult hero, Sergio came to India via Gokulam Kerala. He was solid for them before joining Kashi in 2026. Playing 10 games now, scoring one, and assisting one—don't just look at the stats. He is quite lethal when given the opportunity.
• Alfred Planas: The target man himself. Planas has been a great replacement for Mario Barco and has already scored 4 goals in 10 matches, temporarily putting him on the top scorers list. Just like with Llamas, taking him lightly will be a deadly mistake; if he finds the space, he will punish the defence.
• Rohit Danu: Former Bengaluru FC prodigy, now Inter Kashi’s prodigy. Rohit Danu is a very underrated and versatile all-around winger who can also play as a Centre Forward if needed. He is very explosive at times and will surely give Mohun Bagan’s side-backs a tough time if he starts.

What Should Be Mohun Bagan and Sergio Lobera’s Approach?

Honestly speaking? Only Sergio Lobera and his passive tactics are the things that will stop Mohun Bagan from getting three points. Bagan has been playing matches with a huge gap, which already isn't helping, and Lobera’s confusing tactics and lack of active in-game management have cost the team 12 points. Mohun Bagan has to play positive football; there is no complicated tactical discussion needed here. Just go for a balanced attacking system, and the three points will be ours. The more I write about it, the more irrelevant the article will become.

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