If you’re a Bengaluru FC fan or an Indian football fan, you’ll already know that the biggest match in Indian club football history will be in Bengaluru on October 19th, when the boys from Bengaluru take on the defending champions of the AFC Cup – Johor Darul Ta’zim of Malaysia, in the semi-final of the AFC Cup at the Kanteerva Stadium, Bengaluru.
Bengaluru FC took a vital away goal on their travels to Malaysia and are in the driving seat, with a goalless draw all that they need to see them through to the finals of the competition and create history.
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The Bengaluru FC fans are some of the most vociferous fans in Indian football and back their team to the hilt, and will be doing so once again, come matchday.
If you haven’t decided on being there at the Kanteerva Stadium on the 19th, here’s five very good reasons why you should!
#1 Witness history unfold
Bengaluru FC are no strangers to making history and breaking them time and again, since the club’s inception in 2013.
From winning the league in their very first year to winning a title every season since, Bengaluru FC have had a fairytale journey. They could create more history for Indian club football by progressing to the finals of the AFC Cup and become the first Indian team to do so.
For the uninitiated, the AFC Cup is the second tier cup competition for clubs in Asia, akin to the Europa League in Europe.
(Video Courtesy: The AFC Hub YouTube Channel)
East Bengal and Dempo are the two other Indian clubs to have reached this far in the competition, both succumbing to losses in the semi-final in 2013 and 2008 respectively.
A goalless draw is all that is required for Bengaluru FC as they will progress on the away goals rule, but the Bengaluru FC team and their faithful will know that defending the whole 90 minutes, that too against the reigning champions, will be an arduous task.
#2 First glimpse of the new regime
After securing their second title in three years, Bengaluru FC’s manager, Ashley Westwood, had hinted that his time at the club was up and that he would be moving on after his successful spell. And what Bengaluru FC’s fans’ feared the worst came true when it was confirmed that Westwood and BFC parted ways earlier this year after three trophy-laden years.
In July, Bengaluru FC announced the appointment of former Barcelona assistant manager, Albert Roca. The Spaniard has bags of experience in top-level football and was the assistant manager to Frank Rijkaard at Barcelona and Galatasaray.
A few months in and Roca has already impressed fans and pundits with his team’s quick passing and pressing; a departure from the robust English style of football that was played under the former manager, Ashely Westwood.
The early signs look good and it seems like Roca can take the club to the next level.
#3 The atmosphere
Any fan who has attended a Bengaluru FC home game will agree with the fact that the games at Kanteerva Stadium (and the previous Bangalore Football Stadium) are games with possibly, the best and loudest fans.
The Bengaluru FC faithful pull out all the stops to egg their team on – from the boisterous crowd chanting songs, to big banners with motivating messages to the players or even letting the referee/opponent know of their displeasure.
(Video Courtesy: Sharan A Kukreja YouTube Channel)
The stadium is going to be bouncing come the 19th, with several stands in the 24,000 capacity stadium already sold out!
The ‘West Block Blues’, a Bengaluru FC fan group and the loudest section of the stadium, have already placed banners in the stadium and are sure to shout out some funny and encouraging chants during the course of the game.
#4 Firsthand look at the trio of new players
The exit of Ashley Westwood at the end of last season also saw the exit of Curtis Osano, Josh Walker, Kim Song Yong, and Michael Collins – who was the replacement for the injured Josh Walker during the season.
The new manager Albert Roca has brought in three new foreign players and has kept hold of John Johnson – who formed a formidable partnership at the back with Osano – to complete the quota of four foreigners.
In came experienced Spanish midfielder Alvaro Rubio, previously of Valladolid and Albacete, Juan Antonio, a big and powerful centre-back who came through the ranks at Real Madrid Castilla, and Australian midfielder Cameron Watson, who has loads of experience in Asia.
All three played their part in the three AFC Cup games, with the cool and composed Rubio standing out and showing his class by dictating play from midfield. The three players, along with Johnson, Chhetri, and Eugenson will have an important part to play if Bengaluru are to progress to the final.
#5 Start of an exciting new era
The game marks the beginning of a new era under the Roca regime, as well as, hopefully, a new era for Indian football.
The build-up to the game has seen Bengaluru FC receive words of encouragement from rival fans and clubs, sports personalities and even the sports minister; BFC are not only representing Bengaluru and their loyal fans, but also all of India.
This is the first game that Bengaluru FC will be playing in front of their home fans this season, after the first leg of the quarter-finals against Singapore’s Tampines Rovers was played behind-closed-doors due to a security issue.
Bengaluru FC will defend their I-League crown in January next year when the first rounds of the league commence, followed by the Federation Cup later in the year. A positive result in the semi-final game against Johor will set things rolling for the club.
