Yellow Army: The Twelfth Man

On matchdays for Kerala Blasters in the Indian Super League, the Jawahar Lal Nehru stadium in Kochi turns into a sea of yellow, buzzing with chants, Viking claps, and smoke bombs. This is the story of their twelfth man, the Yellow Army.

Kerala Blasters and The Yellow Army | Source: Pinterest

Any sport is incomplete without the support of passionate fans who inject life into the arenas. Players dream of performing in packed stadiums, where the ground reverberates with the echo of fans in motion. The Yellow Army supporters of Kerala Blasters are second to none in the game of fanfare. In a nation where cricket rules the streets, Kerala is an exception. Football coexists alongside cricket in a big way. With a rich history of professional clubs and champion players, the people of Kerala celebrate football with all their might. Players from the state have constantly featured in the Indian team and are a powerhouse for the sport.

When the Indian Super League was founded in 2014, many teams were formed, and among them were the Kerala Blasters FC. It had been a while since the people of Kerala had a team to root for, and when the Blasters came in, there were no second guesses. The team was co-owned by India’s cricketing maestro Sachin Tendulkar, and this gave the people more to cheer about. Simulated in the model of common football leagues around the world, ISL was based on a home-and-away format, with Kochi being the home venue for the Kerala Blasters. True to its name, the Blasters made Kochi a fortress, supported by their vigorous fans who call themselves the ‘Manjappada’, or ‘The Yellow Army’.

As soon as the team was announced, a fan group was formed on Facebook. The first season of ISL saw Kerala playing brilliant football which took them to the finals. Though they had to be content with a second-place finish, the fans accepted the team, and their heroics were lauded. Key players like David James and Iain Hume were adored, and that was the inception of one of the most popular fan clubs in the nation.

As the seasons progressed, the numbers of the fan club rose, now organised and directed through WhatsApp groups. Every match was a mission, and the loyal fans were determined to help see their side through. They travelled with the team to show support in away matches, and when they came home, built an electric atmosphere that was proof of the Blasters’ status. Each home game is cheered on by sixty thousand fans, who come armed with smoke bombs and anthems. The opposition is put under pressure before the match even begins, and every attempt at goal triggers an earthquake in the stands.

Filled to the brim with emotions and excitement, the Manjappada has made headlines various times. In 2017, it won the Indian Sports Honours award for ‘The Best Fanclub of the Year’, edging out ‘West Block Blues’, a fan club of the iconic Bengaluru FC. This rivalry has carried over through the seasons, and their matchups are termed the Southern Derby of ISL. The Yellow Army made history by creating Asia’s largest tifo which was unfurled in Kochi during a league match in 2022. With Viking claps and catchy slogans, the fans make every match an exhilarating emotional rollercoaster.

The unbridled support has also gone extreme at times, with fanfights occurring at key games. Their loyalty was recently on display when Ivan Vukomanovic, head coach of the Blasters, asked the players to get off the field after a refereeing mishap against Bengaluru FC. The fans sided with the coach and lauded his integrity, taking on the battle with the ISL management. With over 100,000 followers on Twitter, Manjappada enjoys extreme popularity and is commonly referred to as the loudest fanbase in India. The fan club has also made community activities a norm, investing in and promoting the sporting skills of young boys and girls across the state.

Winning and losing are part and parcel of every game, and a team needs to hold their composure as they work through a tournament. For Kerala Blasters FC, this becomes a little easier, as they’re supported through thick and thin by the massive Yellow Army, who will stop at nothing to demonstrate their loyalty and love for their team. They are truly the team’s twelfth man who rule the galleries and make their home ground a formidable fortress.