Victor Mongil, Kerala Blasters FC’s latest signing has revealed that it was always a dream for him to don the club’s yellow and blue jersey since arriving in the Hero Indian Super League (ISL) for the first time in the 2019-20 campaign.

Mongil a Hero ISL winner with ATK FC has always admired the Blasters for their tremendous fan support and their passion for the game and the possibility to play for the side was always an attractive proposition for him.

However, when Mongil returned to the Hero ISL in 2021, he could not get his dream move to Blasters and joined Odisha FC instead.

The centre-back had a solid season with the Juggernauts that paved the way to his dream move to Kochi ahead of Hero ISL 2022-23.

“I have been lucky to play for some really top clubs in ATK FC and Odisha FC but for me, this move was the best because Kerala Blasters FC, for me, are the biggest club in India because of their support and love of the fans,” Mongil was quoted as saying on the Star Spotlight with Khuri Irani show on the Kerala Blasters FC’s Instagram page.

“I've been waiting for three years for this (chance to play for Kerala Blasters FC) but now it's a reality. I am very excited for this new chapter and I can’t wait to play my first game in front of our fans at Kochi,” he added.

The Spanish defender though is already feeling the love of the fans even before setting foot in Kochi.

“The fans' welcome has been unbelievable. My social media for the last 4-5 days has been on fire. The fans for sure will be our 12th man this season. I have never played in Kochi and I am looking forward to it. I will give my 100% on the pitch and hopefully, we will win something,” he said.

Mongil has played 28 matches in the Hero ISL across his two stints and has a staggering passing accuracy of 80.78% during these matches. He will thus slot in directly into head coach Ivan Vukomanovic’s technical style of play and thereby improve the team.

“I like the project as Kerala Blasters FC want to always fight for the top position and every player wants to be part of such big projects,” he said.

“Last season was great but we want to continue in the same way. The new season presents us with another opportunity to play in a final. So we want to keep fighting till we reach another final,” added Mongil.

The 29-year-old expects to be a part of a closely-knit group when he joins the Kerala Blasters FC squad as he could see the togetherness in the team when he faced them last season as an Odisha FC player. This bond has been a key factor in him joining the Blasters.

“Last season, when I faced Kerala Blasters FC, I could see a bond like a family at KBFC. I think it makes a difference when games are tight. If you are closely knit as a group, the result often goes your way and that makes a difference in the end. I like to be part of such teams,” he said.

Mongil who has the experience of playing in the second and third tiers of Spanish football will bring a lot of experience to the table which will certainly help the youngsters that form a big part of the team’s core.

The Spaniard wants to be a guiding light for these young players.

“I want to help the young players in every way possible. Not just on the pitch but off the pitch as well. In football, you can be flying high or you can be down. In my experience in India, I want to help these young players when it comes to their skills, diet and everything. I think it's important for them to be professional as if they do that then we have a great chance to win the trophy,” he said.

Kerala Blasters FC faced an agonising defeat at the hands of Hyderabad FC in the final last season when they lost out on penalties and the group led by Vukomanovic is determined to go one step better this time around. The arrival of Mongil seems like a step in the right direction.

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