Football would not be what it is if not for its fans. Since its inception in 2014, the Indian Super League has propelled the sport to new highs in the country. For football fans of Tamil Nadu, the birth of Chennaiyin FC gave a chance to support a local team and not a European club. A sense of attachment and belonging beckoned them to stadiums all over the country.
An ardent follower of football would know that fans go a long way in influencing the outcome of a match and Chennaiyin striker Jeje Lalpekhlua rightly thanked the 1,000-odd fans who had travelled from Tamil Nadu to Bengaluru to watch the final on Saturday.
“If you win a trophy for the club, it’s amazing for the fans. That’s why we go out there to win it for them. I am proud like all these fans from Chennaiyin who have come here to watch the final. This one is for the fans. We would like to thank the members of Super Machans and B
Stand Blues for coming all the way and supporting us,” said the striker from Mizoram. Jenisha Rani of Super Machans who was at the Kanteerava Stadium said the atmosphere was electrifying. “It was an amazing feeling being there. There was friendly banter between the fan groups of Chennaiyin and Bengalurur FC but nothing untoward happened. Around 600 fans of Super Machans witnessed the unforgettable final,” said Jenisha, who works in an IT firm.
It was a nervous last few minutes for Chennaiyin fans after their opponents pulled one back in the dying minutes of the game, but CFC managed to hold on for a great win. “The last 6-7 minutes were very tense. We didn't want the match to go to extra time. When the final whistle was blown, we all felt huge a sense of relief,” Jenisha added.
Three heroes
There is no doubt that Chennaiyin owe their second ISL title in four seasons to collective work. But some players proved to be more crucial to the team’s success than others.
Who are they?
Jeje Lalpekhlua
The Mizoram forward justified the faith manager John Gregory reposed in him with nine goals. Even when Jeje went through droughts, Gregory stuck with him. His header against FC Goa in the second leg of the semi-final was the pick of the nine.
Mailson Alves
In addition to being a defensive rock, the Brazilian came up with timely goals to propel Chennaiyin to glory. He etched his name in the hearts of CFC fans with two superb headed goals in the final. His commitment for the team was always exemplary.
Inigo Calderon
The 36-year-old may be long in the tooth but he is never short of passion on the field. The warrior, who had scored the winner against FC Goa in the league that was important for the team's qualification to the play-offs, prevented two certain goals in the final with timely headed clearances. If one player exemplified Chennaiyin's fighting spirit, it was the Spaniard.
