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The answer to the question, "Which is the best fan club in India?" has to be, without a doubt and across sports, the one and only Manjappada. The fan club, a never-ending source of energy to Kerala Blasters, is an example to all football maniacs in the country.
Indian Super League commenced at a stage when Indian football was nearing an end of the line. There was no answer to where football in the nation was headed. People who went crazy over foreign leagues hardly knew the men who wore blue. The defining football league in the country, the I-League, was on the verdict of losing its fame. The famous Mohun Bagan-East Bengal derbies, the ruling periods of the Goan clubs were all things of past. In general, interest in Indian football was limited to a few who had a direct link with the game played.
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But the stone that was laid on the evening of 21 October 2013 was a turning point. All of a sudden, people were giving attention to the headlines of Indian football. Fans gathered to see what the new beginning in football was. They were not disappointed, and most continue to be regular followers of the league till date.
A name that can't be left out after saying these words is - Manjappada. The word means 'Yellow Army' in Malayalam, in line with the famous yellow kits of Kerala Blasters. From its inception, the Manjappada has been with the Blasters, wherever they went.
These fanatics from Kerala have been a boost not only to their state but the whole football community in the country. They have set an example to every other fan club, displaying the do's and don'ts of a fan community. They have set the limits themselves and have stepped up at all right situations, at times even outside the football galleries.
Here, let's take a quick look at some things that other fan clubs in the country can learn from Manjappada.
#5 Setting up office
This is not a thing many fan clubs dare to do, especially in a country like India - setting up an office. The members of the club were quick to realize the need for an exact location to promote their activities. To bring together such a large number of fans is a gigantic task, which Manjappada has succeeded in. This would never have been possible without an office set up around 2000 meters from their home ground.
Manjappada has largely been involved in the social activities in the region. The community was actively doing their part for the flood victims of the state. Such involvements were regular throughout the off-season.
Coming to the direct involvement with the game, Manjappada now has members in various parts of the world. They have made their presence felt even in the stands of foreign leagues and the task of coordinating these members have been done exceptionally. The club authorities also launched a website earlier this year, along with a mobile application to interact with the users. Manjappada stays active in social media bringing about the latest updates and previews of Blasters' games to its fans.
Without any room for doubt, a physical location has very well helped the club reach out to all these activities. Certainly, this is a simple goal any fan club in any sports can do to make itself grow.
#4 Streamlining sale of tickets
Another thing that amazes the observers are the fans' involvement in the sale of tickets. No matter what happens, the East gallery of the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium of Kochi belongs to the Manjappada.
No football maniac from God's Own Country ever misses out an opportunity to grab the tickets for their home game. While collecting tickets still remains a task at certain club grounds, it's not the case with the Blasters.
Manjappada have done their part in making the ticket sale process simpler and ensure that every member who wishes to see their heroes play isn't left in the lurch. This is a factor of the consistent rush at the stadium in every home match of Kerala Blasters.
#3 Pre-match build up
When most of the fan clubs in the country reach the stadium, support their teams and leave, Manjappada does more than that. Every match day for a Manjappada member is a day to remember for their lifetime.
The fan group begins their preparations days before the match. They do everything to ensure that the players never feel a lack of support from the spectators. Manjappada has men who take charge and organize their well famous Mexican waves, flashlights and Viking Claps.
The magic that the visiting players feel is done with a lot of hard work and effort put in from the club members. The dedication shown by them motivates any player wearing the yellow to be at his best, which can be adopted by other clubs as well.
#2 Respectful Chants
This is a thing that keeps Manjappada different from others. This club never takes to harming or hurting any player or fan, by the means of actions or words. The club members make sure that the chants are kept civil and no one gets offended.
Manjappada create chants that are a treat to players on the field. Oye Oye Oye and Sandesh Jhingan are famous fan-favorite chants of the Blaster's fans. The players and staff who came and went to Kochi have always mentioned these and are sure to do the same in the future.
They have also grabbed attention for the love shown towards the visiting players and fans. Every person who has made a visit to the fort has been treated well by the Yellow Army, and they continue to support good football despite the side.
#1 Crowd numbers and passion
The biggest quality Manjappada has showcased over the years is their never-ending passion to the game. It is often football over the team for the Keralites as they never forget to identify and appreciate good football from the rivals.
Kerala Blasters have always topped the ISL list of highest attendance. They have had the highest average attendance in all the past 4 seasons. In the first season, Kochi had the highest average attendance of 47,000 people followed by 52,000 and 48,000 in 2015 and 2016 seasons respectively. In the very last season, 38,000 came to watch the matches despite the limited number of seats that were available.
The huge support even for matches on weekdays wouldn't have been possible without a pro-active fan club like Manjappada and Blasters would always be thankful for this continuous support from their army.
