Sporstar logo
  • Cricket World Cup 2023
  • Football
  • Columns
  • Shorts
  • PKL 2023
  • Cricket World Cup 2023
  • Football
  • Columns
  • Shorts
  • PKL 2023
MagazineBuy Print
LoginAccountSubscribe

PREMIUM

  • Magazine
  • Posters
  • Columns
  • Special Editions
  • Star Life
  • Statsman

PLAYGROUNDS

  • Cricket
  • Football
  • Kabaddi
  • Archery
  • Tennis
  • Athletics
  • Basketball
  • Chess
  • Hockey
  • Golf
  • Motorsport
  • Shooting
  • Volleyball
  • Squash
  • Table Tennis
  • Swimming
  • Wrestling
  • Badminton
  • Boxing
  • Cue Sport
  • MMA
  • ESPORTS

MULTIMEDIA

  • Videos
  • Gallery
  • Podcast
  • Sportoon

ON STAGE

  • ACES Awards
  • Sportstar Conclave

PREMIUM

  • Magazine
  • Posters
  • Columns
  • Special Editions
  • Star Life
  • Statsman

PLAYGROUNDS

  • Cricket
  • Football
  • Kabaddi
  • Archery
  • Tennis
  • Athletics
  • Basketball
  • Chess
  • Hockey
  • Golf
  • Motorsport
  • Shooting
  • Volleyball
  • Squash
  • Table Tennis
  • Swimming
  • Wrestling
  • Badminton
  • Boxing
  • Cue Sport
  • MMA
  • ESPORTS

MULTIMEDIA

  • Videos
  • Gallery
  • Podcast
  • Sportoon

ON STAGE

  • ACES Awards
  • Sportstar Conclave
Latest issue of Sportstar

Subscribers Only Have you subscribed yet?

Buy Print

  • CONNECT WITH US
  • Get sportstar app on
  • Google Playstore
  1. Home
  2. Football
  3. ISL 2022-23

ISL diary: Life is hard for away-team fans at Kerala Blasters’ Nehru Stadium

Ivan Vukomanovic, the Kerala Blasters head coach, gave a hint of what could be running in the mind of an away fan in Kochi.

Published : Dec 24, 2022 12:55 IST

Stan Rayan,Shayan Acharya

Comments

follow iconFollow Us

SHARE

  • Copy link
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Telegram
  • LinkedIn
  • WhatsApp
  • Reddit

READ LATER

SEE ALL Remove
Die-hard fans: “We are so pleased and happy when we see the yellow sea around, especially the feeling when we go out of the tunnel, it’s priceless. We like to give everything for them. Of course, away-team supporters, they know when they are coming to Kochi it will be all about the Kerala Blasters supporters because the game is in Kochi. That’s how it is in football,” Ivan Vukomanovic, the Blasters head coach, said.
Die-hard fans: “We are so pleased and happy when we see the yellow sea around, especially the feeling when we go out of the tunnel, it’s priceless. We like to give everything for them. Of course, away-team supporters, they know when they are coming to Kochi it will be all about the Kerala Blasters supporters because the game is in Kochi. That’s how it is in football,” Ivan Vukomanovic, the Blasters head coach, said. | Photo Credit: THULASI KAKKAT
infoIcon

Die-hard fans: “We are so pleased and happy when we see the yellow sea around, especially the feeling when we go out of the tunnel, it’s priceless. We like to give everything for them. Of course, away-team supporters, they know when they are coming to Kochi it will be all about the Kerala Blasters supporters because the game is in Kochi. That’s how it is in football,” Ivan Vukomanovic, the Blasters head coach, said. | Photo Credit: THULASI KAKKAT

Life can be really difficult when you are an ‘away-team’ fan arriving in Kochi’s Nehru Stadium for a Kerala Blasters match in the Indian Super League.

Ivan Vukomanovic, the Blasters head coach, gave a hint of what could be running in the mind of an away fan in Kochi.

“Let’s be honest, when you as an away-team fan arrive in a stadium of 35,000 or 40,000 people and when you are not even in hundreds, then you feel insecure, you feel intimidated, especially when you come and play in Kochi,” said the Serb whose team is enjoying a wonderful winning streak in the ISL.

“We all know what kind of atmosphere awaits you here. Of course, it will be hot because, as the home team and home supporters we know how they support Kerala Blasters. So, I’m very sorry if there were any unpredictable things, or ugly things, but you know their emotions and I hope everybody is safe. I hope all the fans will behave well and everybody will be okay.”

He said the feeling is sort of magical for the Blasters players when they see huge crowds turn up to cheer them at home.

“We are so pleased and happy when we see the yellow sea around, especially the feeling when we go out of the tunnel, it’s priceless. We like to give everything for them. Of course, away-team supporters know that when they are coming to Kochi it will be all about the Kerala Blasters supporters because the game is in Kochi. That’s how it is in football.”

But things have gone a little too far, as one recent match showed.

  • Santosh Trophy: East Bengal holds back Jesin, Kerala left frustrated
  • Women. Life. Freedom: Vafa Hakhamaneshi, Iran’s voice away from home in India
  • Chennaiyin FC fans pump up the volume as ISL action returns to city after 957 days

The Blasters club officials have now decided to impose a fine of Rs. 5 lakh on pitch invaders. That had been an issue in a few recent Blasters home games in Kochi.

“Action — including a fine of Rs. 5 lakh and a ban on matches — will be taken against individuals who cause injury or threaten the safety of players and officials in coming matches,” said the Blasters statement.

Cheerleaders

Just like in any other sport, the last couple of years have been challenging for Mumbai’s football fans. Since the two previous editions of the Indian Super League were held in a bio-bubble, there were restrictions on fans entering the stadium.

Showing their love: The return of Mumbai City FC’s home games have been marked with chants, a team bus welcome, and a flare show. The fans have also added a march from one end of the arena to the other.
Showing their love: The return of Mumbai City FC’s home games have been marked with chants, a team bus welcome, and a flare show. The fans have also added a march from one end of the arena to the other. | Photo Credit: ISL
lightbox-info

Showing their love: The return of Mumbai City FC’s home games have been marked with chants, a team bus welcome, and a flare show. The fans have also added a march from one end of the arena to the other. | Photo Credit: ISL

But this year, things are different. Every time Mumbai City FC plays its home games at the Mumbai Football Arena, located in one of the busiest areas of Andheri, thousands of local fans throng the stadium.

In 2020-2021, Mumbai City FC became the first club in the history of the ISL to do a double by winning the League Shield and trophy. However, the following season the Islanders couldn’t manage to break into the top-four at the end of the season.

And, this time around, fans like those of the West Coast Brigade have made it a point to cheer for the team every time Des Buckingham’s men take the pitch.

“The Mumbai Football Arena is a smaller stadium and the pitch is closer. You can easily read the game from that close. It’s easier to create a vibe with our chants. From inception to winning the double, it has been a great journey. It’s very difficult to express in words,” Anand, a die-hard Mumbai City FC fan, said.

The return of home games have been marked with chants, a team bus welcome, and a flare show. The fans have also added a march from one end of the arena to the other.

“We are having a full house for most of the games this time and fans are excited to be back in the stadiums and cheer for their favourite players. Mumbai fans had missed out on all the action for two years and now they are cherishing each and every bit of it,” a Mumbai City FC official said.

After watching the proceedings on television over the last two seasons, the West Coast Brigade is happy to be back to its den. And they want to make every moment memorable!

Stan Rayan and Shayan Acharya

Comments

Related Topics

ISL /

Kerala Blasters /

Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium /

Ivan Vukomanovic /

Mumbai City FC

Latest on Sportstar

  1. IND vs NZ Live Score Updates, World Cup 2023 Semifinal: Toss updates, predicted lineups; Kohli to play record 4th semi
    Team Sportstar
  2. India vs New Zealand head-to-head record in ODIs ahead of World Cup semifinal: Overall stats, most runs, wickets
    Team Sportstar
  3. IND vs NZ head-to-head in ODI World Cup: India vs New Zealand WC results and records ahead of semifinal
    Team Sportstar
  4. IND vs NZ: New Zealand win/loss record in ODI World Cup semifinal, most runs, wickets, stats
    Team Sportstar
  5. IND vs NZ, ICC World Cup 2023 semifinal: Wankhede Stadium pitch report, conditions, toss factor; stats, records in ODIs
    Team Sportstar
READ MORE STORIES
Latest issue of Sportstar

ICC World Cup 2023: In ‘Spirit of the Game’ debate, Shakib could have been everybody’s hero with some leniency

Ayon Sengupta
Batter’s worst nightmare: Mohammed Shami is currently India’s highest wicket-taker in World Cups, having gone past Zaheer Khan and Javagal Srinath.

Mohammed Shami – The Annihilator Unabated

K. C. Vijaya Kumar
+ SEE all Stories

More on ISL 2022-23

  1. Kerala Blasters, Vukomanovic express regret over ISL walkout against Bengaluru FC
    Team Sportstar
  2. AIFF fines Kerala Blasters 4 crores for Bengaluru FC walkout; Directs KBFC to issue ‘public apology’
    Team Sportstar
  3. ISL diary: ATK Mohun Bagan’s green and maroon party in Goa
    Aneesh Dey
  4. Slavko Damjanovic: ATK Mohun Bagan’s emergency signing who went on to win the Indian Super League
    Neeladri Bhattacharjee
  5. ISL 2022-23: Top 5 matches of the season
    Team Sportstar
READ MORE STORIES

Latest on Sportstar

  1. IND vs NZ Live Score Updates, World Cup 2023 Semifinal: Toss updates, predicted lineups; Kohli to play record 4th semi
    Team Sportstar
  2. India vs New Zealand head-to-head record in ODIs ahead of World Cup semifinal: Overall stats, most runs, wickets
    Team Sportstar
  3. IND vs NZ head-to-head in ODI World Cup: India vs New Zealand WC results and records ahead of semifinal
    Team Sportstar
  4. IND vs NZ: New Zealand win/loss record in ODI World Cup semifinal, most runs, wickets, stats
    Team Sportstar
  5. IND vs NZ, ICC World Cup 2023 semifinal: Wankhede Stadium pitch report, conditions, toss factor; stats, records in ODIs
    Team Sportstar
READ MORE STORIES
Sporstar logo
playstore
  • Sportstar

    • About us
    • Archives
    • News Archive
    • Sitemap
    • Print Subscription
    • Digital Subscription
    • Student Access
    • Corporate/Enterprise Access
    • Rss Feeds
    • Contact Us
    • Careers
  • Group News Sites

    • The Hindu
    • Business LIne
    • Frontline
    • இந்து தமிழ் திசை
    • The Hindu Centre for Politics and Public Policy
    • Young World Club
    • The Hindu E-Paper
    • BusinessLine E-Paper
    • Crossword+ "Free Games"
    • The Hindu Coupons
  • Other Products

    • RoofandFloor
    • STEP
    • Images
    • Classifieds
    • Special Publications
  • Popular Sections

    • Cricket World Cup 2023
    • IPL 2023
    • Cricket
    • Football
    • Tennis
    • WTC
    • F1
    • Basketball

Trending on Sportstar

  • IPL auction 2024: Full list of squads, players after retention day arrow
  • Gujarat Titans: Full list of players retained, released and traded ahead of IPL 2024 auction arrow
  • RCB full list of players retained, released and traded ahead of IPL 2024 auction arrow
  • Mumbai Indians: Full list of players retained, released and traded ahead of IPL 2024 auction arrow
  • IPL 2024: Hardik Pandya’s likely transfer to Mumbai Indians continues to be talking point hours after retention deadline arrow

Trending on our Group sites

  • Traffic curbs for PM Modi’s road show in Hyderabad  arrow
  • Silkyara tunnel collapse | On Day 15, rescuers set a 100-hour vertical drilling target arrow
  • Telangana’s Dignity Housing Project: A long-awaited dream realised, amidst lingering issues arrow
  • How Hindutva pop music is giving hate a soundtrack arrow
  • Rise in bond issuances: NBFCs and banks brace for continued surge in H2 FY24 arrow
  • Telegram
  • Spotify
  • TERMS OF USE
  • PRIVACY POLICY
Copyright© 2023, THG PUBLISHING PVT LTD. or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved.

BACK TO TOParrow

The Hindu
Sign in to unlock all user benefits
  • Get notified on top games and events
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign up / manage to our newsletters with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early bird access to discounts & offers to our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide to our community guidelines for posting your comment