Kochi ∙ After Prithviraj, producer and distributor Listin Stephen from the film industry to invest in the sports business. List debuts as the majority shareholder of Super League Kerala (SLK) football team Thrissur Roar FC.

The co-owners are Cass Patafta, CEO of Australian football team Brisbane Roar, Benoit Joseph of Magnus Sports and Muhammad Rafiq of Nusim Technologies. It is indicated that more prominent people from the Mollywood film industry are ready to invest in SLK teams.

It is estimated that the arrival of film stars and corporates will help in the development of sports in Kerala and attract more spectators.

The film and corporate world of Kerala is also in the way of Bollywood stars and big corporates throwing crores in the country’s franchise sports leagues. The film industry is enthusiastically investing in franchise sports leagues taking root in Kerala. Actor-producer Prithviraj was the first star to invest in SLK.

He and his wife and producer Supriya Menon are co-owners of Forza Kochi FC.

There is also star investment in the newly launched Kerala Cricket League (KCL). The teams were owned by directors Priyadarshan and Sohan Roy.

Corporates in Kerala have also ventured into the sports business. Muthoot Pappachan Group is the owner of Kochi Blue Spikers, a pro volleyball team. SLK team Calicut FC is owned by IBS Executive Chairman VK Mathews.

Reliance, one of the largest corporate empires in the world, is the business group that pays the most attention to sports in India!