Bengaluru FC’s 12th Man

Football in India has not only taken flight but is well on course to probably becoming the number 1 sport in the country. Well, in terms of support at least. However, most football fans in India are fans of the European Leagues in England, Spain or Germany. Football clubs from these countries are widely supported in different parts of the country with many cities having their own official supporters group of their teams. This increasing popularity and support was evident on January 17^th 2016, when world renowned British team Manchester United held a promotional event in Bengaluru, attended by a sell-out crowd in UB City, who passionately cheered for their team at a screening, which showed the game between United and Liverpool. This level of support however, has not yet extended at a similar degree towards India’s major footballing league, the I-League. Prominent Indian teams such as Mohun Bagan, East Bengal, and Dempo SC have not experienced sell-out stadiums week-in and week-out, and the reasons for this are wide and varied. But the recent emergence of a club based in Bengaluru, seems to have sparked optimism among those who wish to see the I-League as a prominent sporting body in the country.

 

When Bengaluru FC or affectionately known as BFC was formed in July 2013, the owners aimed to model the club along the lines of how football teams in Europe are run. One important aspect to any team is its following, and BFC made sure to prioritize the expansion of its fan-base by deploying various marketing strategies. Plunging into social media to interact with its supporters, involving popular outlets and corporates to sell match-day tickets. The club also partnered with popular brew pub, Arbor Brewery Company to screen live games and sell official merchandizes to fans who weren’t able to make it to the stadium. But, even with all the efforts put in, the club may not have foreseen what was to come. It didn’t take long for fans to fill up the Benguluru Football Stadium, then home of the BFC (now the Kanteerava Stadium) to create what has now become one of the most special atmospheres across the I-league. The average attendance to BFC home games at the end of their maiden I-League campaign stood at 7500, quite impressive for a stadium with a capacity of 8400 in a city not known for its football. The sport lovers of Bengaluru, especially the younger population have taken an identity with their football club, and their passion and support for the team has far exceeded anybody’s expectations.

 

On visiting the current home of BFC, the Kanteerava Stadium, you will experience an atmosphere never seen or heard off before in any other sporting event held in India thus far. Chanting a player’s name or yelling “India…India” is what usually goes on in a game of hockey or a cricket. At the Kanteerava however, the fans have adopted a way of support you would witness primarily in England. One of the many unique phenomena you see on match-day is the ‘Stadium March’ where the fans who consider themselves a part of the “BFC family”, gather together and then march towards the stadium waving blue flags, all the while singing “When the blues go marching in” prior to kick-off and the mood is set for the game to come.

 

 

Another aspect of English football the BFC family has brought into the league and one which has created quite a buzz in Indian football is the unified singing. Supporters have come up with various songs/chants aimed not only to create an awe-inspiring atmosphere but also in an attempt to induce inspiration to their team or deflate the opposition. Songs in Kannada has helped maintain the essence of where the club is based thus keeping it closer to home. A remarkable facet to this is, the singing, chanting and cheering doesn’t stop for 90 minutes irrespective of the score. The largely dedicated of the bunch are fans in the West Block Stand who are normally season-ticket holders. Cleverly nicknamed the “West Block Blues”, they are the primary reason for the incredible atmosphere inside the stadium making most of the noise and hanging various banners made for the team and its players. All of this is new to Indian football, which is refreshing compared to the generally drab atmospheres seen even in traditional footballing cities like Goa or Kolkata. The BFC fans also travel to their away games in numbers, ensuring their team is well represented all across the country. And it has certainly not gone unnoticed as BFC recognized their fans as the “12^th man” and players have come out expressing gratitude towards their supporters.

 

Club captain Sunil Chettri went on to quote “I have played for a lot of clubs in the country but haven’t come across fans like the ones in Bangalore. Where else have you heard fans chanting for 90 minutes? We have an almost-packed house every home game and that says a lot about what this club means to the fans. It’s a pleasure to play in front of them.” English center-back John Johnson was also in full praise for the Bangalorean support. “The fans have been brilliant to say the least. Backing the team irrespective of the score. I come from a country where fans are very vocal and it heartening to see scenes like those in the stadium.”

 

 

On May 31^st 2015, in the I-League finale against Mohun Bagan, BFC needed a win to retain their title. A plethora of BFC fans and over a 1000 away fans packed the Kanteerava stadium that night. The atmosphere was electric and the BFC fans sang and cheered for their team for 90 minutes in spite of the pouring rain. The game ended in a heartbreaking 1-1 draw which cost the home team the crown, but the night was marked as one of the biggest in BFC’s small history, as the fans showed their undying support for the club, chanting “BFC…BFC” as they exited the ground and on the streets outside the stadium, despite the result. The club has only become stronger and more together since.

 

An interesting incident transpired in the aforementioned “ILOVEUNITED” event held by Manchester United in Benguluru. Just like in BFC games, the United fans rejoiced by singing songs of the famous British club. Amidst of all this, a remark about “the rise of football in India” made by former United player Quinton Fortune led to a rapturous “BFC…BFC…BFC” chant, as the gathered Bangaloreans proudly displayed equal if not greater love for their home team. One member of the crowd, then tried to kick-start a similar chant for another Benguluru team, the much publicized IPL’s Royal Challengers Bengaluru cricket team. But the remainder of the football crazed fan-base present did not share a similar enthusiasm. Although coming from a small sample space, is this a sign of a shift in balance? Is the younger generation leaning towards the beautiful game (excuse the cliché)? Will fans of other I-League teams draw inspiration from the BFC family and follow suit? Time will tell. But one thing is for certain, Bengaluru FC is well on its way to becoming the city’s pride and joy and if you’re ever in ‘The Garden City’, make sure you come watch the blues battle it out on the green grass and be part of the BFC family.

 

 

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