ISL 2022-23 is back to its home-away format, and so are the fans at the venues. Meanwhile, Mumbai City FC fans have expressed their delight at the matches returning to home turfs after two years of COVID-restricted neutral venue format.
Mumbai City FC (MCFC) fans have missed being at the stadium cheering their team over the past two years, which witnessed an unprecedented high in one and heartbreak in the other. In 2020-21 MCFC became the first club in the history of the Indian Super League (ISL) to do a double by winning the League Shield and trophy. However, the following season the Islanders couldn't break into the top 4 at the end of the season. But, for MCFC fans, returning to the stands after a two-year hiatus has been an emotional experience for fans like those of the West Coast Brigade, who were engaged in long-course preparations to cherish the moment every Indian football fan was waiting for.
"We were extremely emotional because it meant something to us. We made sure there was no half-measure because we never held ourselves back. We ensured the players and coaches knew that the fans were here. As much as they wanted to play in front of the fans, we wanted to watch them play at our home ground," said Anand.
The return was marked with all the trademarks of an MCFC game - chants, a team bus welcome, and a flare show. This time, they also added a march from one end of the Arena to the other - a little celebration among themselves now that they could be back on the premises.
"Now, it's a smaller stadium at the Mumbai Football Arena. The pitch is closer. You can easily read the game from that close. It's easier to create a vibe with our chants. From inception to winning the double, it has been a great journey. It's complicated to express in words," Anand said.
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"The fan engagement done by ISL and Mumbai City over the years has been immense. My experience as a football fan has grown over the years. My attachment increased after every match, irrespective of the outcome. Over the years, in terms of having that fanatic side of me, ISL has helped. Mumbai City FC has played a major role in connecting fans to the club. Every fan coming to the stadium is getting the fan experience they should get", added Anand.
One of the defining features of ISL fan clubs has been that they have encapsulated the local spirit of every city they're in and allowed Indian football to be celebrated in unique styles. With Mumbai, a melting pot of people from different parts of the country, Anand said that the spirit of MCFC's fan following is built on this acceptance and applies to players.
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"People from various parts of India come to Mumbai and accept it as their own, and Mumbai runs in their veins. If you play for Mumbai, you must understand the city's culture. The whole aura and energy of Mumbai is something the whole fanbase carries because we aren't just Mumbai City fans. We are Mumbaikars first, who live and breathe Mumbai. So, if we're going to support a team from the city, we express the spirit of Mumbaikars in the stands and see it resonate with the players," Anand concluded.