When it comes to fan fervour in the city, there’s no one quite like namma Bengaluru FC’s ardent supporters. BFC’s fans a.k.a the West Block Blues have not just dedicatedly shown their undying support to the squad during home games at Kanteerava Stadium, but are also packing their bags and travelling to other cities to root for their team during the ISL and other tournaments.
Artist Varsha Rajshekar is one of those sakkath BFC aficionados who made it a point to follow her team to outstation matches this season. “Travelling to a BFC away game has always been on my bucket list, but I didn’t get to execute it earlier due to work constraints. This time, however, I decided to take my mum along to the KBFC vs BFC game on December 31 in Kochi. And what a day it was! The experience of an away travel is surreal and even more so when you’re traveling with your mother. We were loud in the stands and outside. We were only 90-odd WBB fans, but our voices could be heard in that massive stadium. The victory was the icing on the cake as it was the one of the best New Years’ Eve for all of us,” she smiles. Post that, Varsha travelled to Mumbai for the game and will be going to Bhubaneshwar soon.
For CA student Ajith Harish, travelling has been a great passion and things got more exciting when he fell in love with BFC and found more reasons to hit the road. “My first away trip was against Khalid Jamil’s Mumbai FC where we lost 2-0 that day, but it never stopped me from going to subsequent matches. I’ve been to Mumbai, Goa , Siliguri, Pune , Kolkata, Delhi , Cuttack , Singapore and Doha. My best experience has been in Cuttack where we won the Federation Cup in extra time,” reminisces the fervent WBB, who has travelled to Goa, Mumbai and Kolkata during the ISL.
Student Raakshitha Pai is another footie buff whose chance rendezvous with BFC changed her life. “For our away games, we need to give more than our hundred per cent as we’re fewer in number and everyone has to shout their lungs out. Every supporter needs to encourage the team and be the twelfth man. My first away game was the FED Cup finals, with BFC against Mohan Bagan at Cuttack. The best way to kickstart 2018 was with an away match at Kerala against KBFC. The experience of outshining the Yellow Sea is something I will take to my grave,” she says.
The teen has also travelled to Mumbai with her mom for an away game. “She was converted into a BFC fan and will be accompanying me to Bhubaneswar too! The frosting on the cupcake is that I’ll be celebrating my 18th birthday with the West Block family. One must travel at least once to an away game and experience the pure energy and beauty of going to foreign territory and witnessing the ups and downs that BFC has to offer,” she exclaims.
