It was the evening of June 1. On a humid Friday evening, the Indian national football team had thrashed the national squad of Chinese Taipei by 5-0. Sunil Chhetri, who leads the Indian team, had registered a hat-trick, which was coupled with strikes from winger Udanta Singh and defensive midfielder Pronay Halder. It was the perfect start to India’s Intercontinental Cup campaign but not many were aware of the hosts’ emphatic result.
The next day, on June 2, things took a turn for Indian football. Skipper Sunil Chhetri released a video on Twitter requesting fans from around the country to turn up to the stadium, regardless of their liking towards the team. The plea, which was supported by known personalities on social media, led to an increased audience for India’s next match against Kenya. From a mere attendance of 2,569 in the opener to 8, 890 in the following fixture, Mumbai saw a rise in participation of fans.
The stadium went from being silent to not leaving any moment to cheer India. From toddlers to adults, all dressed up in the blue colours of the national team.
Manasi Pathak/Goal
General stands 4 and 5 of the venue witnessed an army of vocal fans, famously known as the Blue Pilgrims. The group kick started their chants and cheers nearly two hours before kick-off as they welcomed the team bus at the entrance. With drums in their hands and passion in their voices, the bunch promised to back the Blues until the final whistle.
Every time Chhetri touched the ball, the crowd at the stadium cheered. And each time Sandesh Jhingan cleared the danger or Subashish Bose guarded the left-side of the defence, the audience applauded. For each run Udanta made on the right flank, there was a roar from the crowd for his effort. Youngster Anirudh Thapa’s brilliance too was acknowledged.
Manasi Pathak/Goal
India defeated the Kenyans 3-0 and the stormy, rainy night was lit up by the lively audience. What made it even better was the fact that it is a near full-house on a weekday. A similar atmosphere was seen for the fixture against New Zealand, which saw tickets sold out three days prior to the match.
Although team India fell prey to the young New Zealand side, the spectators showed their unparalleled support for Constantine’s army. Things got even better for the finale of the tournament as the Blue Pilgrims prepared a tifo which depicted the face of a tiger, synonymous to the Blue Tigers, the nickname of the Indian team. The tifo was accompanied with a tricolour, which emerged as a result of co-ordinated action from the crowd.
Manasi Pathak/Goal
Young girls and women too joined at the venue which saw the host nation lift the trophy on June 10, Sunday. The efforts of the Indian team ensured they had the winning medal around their necks but what made the championship memorable was the unending support of the spectators. It was a notable feat for Indian football in recent times, and Mumbai in particular, which had received increasing flak for its poor attendance records.
The ticket sales were on the rise, India jerseys selling like hotcakes outside the metro station had become a common sight, and the tricolour being waved in the background of team India’s matches had become the usual shot for all cameras.
The tournament was a success in terms of crowd attendance. The Mumbai Football Arena had risen up to the occasion. What it needs to now ensure is that the support is sustained and the numbers grow bigger for every match of Indian football, be it at the club-level or for the national team.
