#Football
Aren't we a cricket-mad country? Does any other sport come close when it comes to fans going nuts? Nopes.
Or so I thought, until I found myself in Kochi last evening, armed with a ticket to watch the #ISL opener between Kerala Blasters & East Bengal.
Madness!
+
Aren't we a cricket-mad country? Does any other sport come close when it comes to fans going nuts? Nopes.
Or so I thought, until I found myself in Kochi last evening, armed with a ticket to watch the #ISL opener between Kerala Blasters & East Bengal.
Madness!
+
I was told the Kerala Blasters fandom is a mad one. But how mad can it even be, I thought.
What I was about to experience is crazy. Managed to get a car pass -- thankfully -- and waded through this chanting crowd.
+
What I was about to experience is crazy. Managed to get a car pass -- thankfully -- and waded through this chanting crowd.
+
I still don't quite understand in totality what #Manjappada exactly means. Loosely translated, it apparently refers to the "Yellow Army".
Wow... which team wouldn't like a fan base like this. It's difficult to describe what I saw.
+
Wow... which team wouldn't like a fan base like this. It's difficult to describe what I saw.
+
I've heard legendary stories of the Kolkata derby. Some day soon, I'll try and experience one personally at Salt Lake.
Many years ago, I saw a Goa vs Chennai game in Goa. That was such a wholesome experience too...
+
Many years ago, I saw a Goa vs Chennai game in Goa. That was such a wholesome experience too...
+
But what I saw in #Kochi yesterday was absolutely surreal.
The fans aren't just crazy in their own way, but very respectful of others too.
Must say those who haven't seen Kerala's home game at the Nehru Stadium must do it at least once.
+
The fans aren't just crazy in their own way, but very respectful of others too.
Must say those who haven't seen Kerala's home game at the Nehru Stadium must do it at least once.
+
Ivan Vukomanovic is the coach of Blasters. He's a Serb, 77-born, a former defensive midfielder.
Trust me, when inside the stadium, his fame is no less than a Mohanlal or Mammooty.
I'm not kidding. 😅.... he's a star!!
+
Trust me, when inside the stadium, his fame is no less than a Mohanlal or Mammooty.
I'm not kidding. 😅.... he's a star!!
+
Here's the crowd greeting him on the day of the season opener. He walked to the middle of the pitch to bow down to them.
One could tell how much it means to him, having thousands singing his team's glory song...
+
One could tell how much it means to him, having thousands singing his team's glory song...
+
The story goes -- Not too long ago, when Ivan arrived at the Kochi airport, hundreds of fans came to receive him...
Apparently his mom saw that video and told him "come what may, never leave this club. You'll never find this love anywhere".
😅😅
+
Apparently his mom saw that video and told him "come what may, never leave this club. You'll never find this love anywhere".
😅😅
+
Check this... no less than some rock concert.
Just loved the experience. Realised I must travel and watch more of other sports.
Will return to cricket once the World Cup begins.
+
Just loved the experience. Realised I must travel and watch more of other sports.
Will return to cricket once the World Cup begins.
+
The game was an interesting one too. Kerala won 3-1.
The noise that erupted inside the stadium when the hosts scored -- deafening.
It's loud to the extent that it can get scary.
+
The noise that erupted inside the stadium when the hosts scored -- deafening.
It's loud to the extent that it can get scary.
+
Met IM Vijayan too... the former rockstar of Indian football.
Slim, fit, and a top cop.
Loved how all who saw him -- be it politicians, fans, organizers -- were completely in awe of the man, full of respect.
+
Slim, fit, and a top cop.
Loved how all who saw him -- be it politicians, fans, organizers -- were completely in awe of the man, full of respect.
+
This was fun. Must do more of this...
Will keep Salt Lake my next destination. Of course, as my journalist friends put it, if you haven't experienced a Kolkata derby, you haven't really experienced much.
: )
##
Will keep Salt Lake my next destination. Of course, as my journalist friends put it, if you haven't experienced a Kolkata derby, you haven't really experienced much.
: )
##
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
