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The state of Kerala has always been a footballing hotbed of the country, along with Bengal and the north-eastern states. For years, many players emerged from this region and represented the country. The passion for football among the people is something one needs to know.
There is no doubt that Cricket is the most popular sport in the country, but not in the southern part of this vast peninsula. Here, people often end up fighting with each other on a meagre debate of football. The loyalty and love for the game is incomparable.
For the past few years, we have been witnessing it. Since the inception of Kerala Blasters, the football-loving people of Kerala have got something to cheer about. On every match days, they fill up the stands in full numbers and the banging of dhols, kara-nakara make the occasion more complicated for the visiting teams.
Football in Kerala has witnessed ups and downs frequently. At a time, Indian football team coaches looked at this part of the region to include players in their team. Kerala has seen a decline for some years with no players in the national team, even a very few at the club levels.
But the situation has changed recently, after the introduction of the Indian Super League. With a team to cheer for, Keralites wasted no time in filling up the stands. Even they have a team in the I-League, Gokulam Kerala, which have impressed last year and have immediately engrossed by loyal supporters.
As football in Kerala is on a rise again, we will take a look at the five biggest moments behind it:
#5 Ronaldinho’s love for Kerala
Not just in local football, but Kerala football lovers find their interest in world football also. Before every football World Cup, the state is divided between Brazil and Argentina supporters. Debate, discussions often end up in fights.
So when the news of Brazil’s World Cup winning footballer Ronaldinho’s arrival was circulated, excitement reached its extreme. On the night of the player’s arrival, thousands of supporters thronged at the airport to catch a glimpse of the superstar.
Ronaldinho came to inaugurate Sait Nagjee tournament which was revived after 21 years. But he was utterly shocked to see so many spectators waiting to see him even in the midnight. Around 500 two-wheelers escorted him from airport to hotel, with the Brazilian superstar waiving his hand to the people.
Ronaldinho did not play, but his presence was so effusive that the Nagjee cup witnessed record-breaking audience in its matches. It was surely a moment of madness for the people of Kerala. Ronaldinho was amused and even praised the enthusiasm of the people.
#4 Kerala Blasters reaching the ISL final of the inaugural season
In early 2014, All Indian Football Federation announced a franchise-based football league on the line of Indian Premier League. On April, it was announced that the Kerala franchise were won by former India batsman Sachin Tendulkar and entrepreneur Prasad Potluri.
The impact was huge among the football fans. After so many days, they got the chance to cheer for their own football team. Manjappada or Yellow Army – a supporters fan base was formed immediately and they made their presence felt on the stadium with wearing the tradition yellow-coloured jersey and banging musical instruments.
Kerala had a disastrous start as they lost the first two matches and drew the third one before losing again in the fourth match. The campaign was topsy-turvy but finally, they managed to finish at the fourth position. They reached the final beating Chennai. The team fought hard before going down in the injury time against Atletico de Kolkata (now ATK) in the final.
Reaching the final on the very first season left a huge impression among the fans and the support for the team kept growing. Now, Kerala Blasters have most number of followers in the country. And they have reached the final once more, but again lost the trophy. Perhaps we don’t have too long to see the Champion.
#3 Winning Santosh trophy after 14 years
A bunch of unheralded youngsters, marshalled by a super coach Satheevan Balan gifted Kerala one of most prized possession in recent times – the Santosh Trophy. The trophy eluded the southern state for 13 years before a talented team delivered when matter.
Only a few people knew the names of Jithin MS, Rahul KP, Seesan S, Midhun V, Rahul V Raj before the Santosh trophy. But after their win against Bengal in a thrilling shoot-out final, they suddenly caught the attention of the whole country. On their return to the homeland, they were given hero’s welcome. Many of them were approached by clubs with lucrative deals. All of a certain, life was changed dramatically.
The reason behind their triumph leads us to a unique tournament, belonged entirely to the Keralites. The Sevens tournament is something which you will see only in Kerala. Several parts across the tournament, the seven-a-side tournaments happen throughout the year. The team mostly consists of local players along with one or two foreigners, coming from the African shores.
The quality of the tournament can make you spellbound. In front of a huge number of spectators, the players desperately want to prove their mettle. Scouts from big clubs are present on most of the matches. Initially, this format did not get the recognition from the national and state associations, hindering the players. But with the popularity comes the attention. Now, Sevens Tournament is recognised by the state body.
Such is a craze that once I M Vijayan said,
“There would not be a single professional footballer in Kerala who hasn’t played in the Sevens.”
Jiyad Hassan, who was a member of the Champion Santosh Trophy team, said,
“Sevens provides an opportunity for a lot of players who would otherwise have to sit idle. It has also brought the quality of the African players’ striking and dribbling skills to our grounds.”
The likes of Rahul KP, Ashique Kuruniyan all caught the attention by playing in this tournament and one can hope that more stars will come out in the future.
#2 La Liga World played in Kochi
Around the end of June this year, it was announced the La Liga World, an annual friendly fixture, will happen this time in the capital of Kerala. The announcement created a buzz among the locals as they have never witnessed something like this.
The participation of Girona FC, a LaLiga team who beaten Real Madrid before coming to India and Melbourne City FC, third in the Australian A-League, confirmed by the organisers. Kerala Blasters were the home team. This was the second time a top division club played on the Indian soil after Blackburn Rovers.
Though Kerala Blasters lost both their matches and conceded 11 goals, it made no difference in their popularity. Kerala players got the opportunity to play against a quality side and learnt useful lessons from their pre-season campaign.
Coach David James said after their match,
“Preseason is all about regaining fitness and gelling. But it will be a great opportunity to see where an Indian club stand in terms of quality while we play a team from Australia.”
#1 #SaveKochiTurf campaign
Probably the greatest achievement of football-loving people of Kerala is certainly the #SaveKochiTurf campaign, which forced the Kerala Cricket Association and Board for Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) to shift the match to Greenfield Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram.
The India versus West Indies match, which will happen on Wednesday, November 1, was initially scheduled at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi, which is the home of Kerala Blasters. The move irked the football fans and invited criticism from every corner of the state. Fans put up a dharna in front of the stadium.
But the KCA was in no mood to trackback from its position. The Greater Cochin Development Authority leased out the JLN stadium to KCA for a 30-year period in 2014 and the state cricket body is well within its rights to host the match in Kochi.
The fans started #SaveKochiTurf campaign and urged people from all over the country to support them. Not only they got the support from ordinary citizens, but sportspersons like Sachin Tendulkar (the former owner of Kerala Blasters), India captain Sunil Chhetri, Canadian footballer Iain Hume, local footballers like CK Vineeth and Rino Anto took to twitter and raised voice against the KCA’s decision.
Under pressure from every corner, the KCA finally announced that ODI has been shifted to Thiruvananthapuram. #SaveKochiTurf campaign came to an end with rousing success.
