KOCHI: It was a withering draught that lasted nearly a decade. But even if the weather did not appear to be in the mood to offer a reprieve, Kochi, in sultry conditions on Tuesday, hosted its first international football match since 2017. And in a spirited display that appeared to soothe many a ‘starved’ soul, India beat Hong Kong 2-1 in the AFC Asian Cup qualifier.
The occasion was steeped in importance for both football fans in Kerala and the venue, the Jawaharlal Nehru International (JNI) Stadium, which had recently gone through a major renovation.
The over 22,000 spectators, of overwhelmingly Indian team supporters, made it an evening to remember -- which chants, songs and and fervent enthusiasm. “It was an unbelievable atmosphere, the fans became the 12th man, and we had to give them something to smile about,” star defender and former Kerala Blasters player Sandesh Jhingan was quoted as saying after the match. Debutant Ryan Dale Williams, who opened the scoring for India, also hailed the support the national team received.
“Watching an international match live is a different experience altogether,” said C V Pappachan, former India international. “There was a time when Kolkata was the home of football in the country. Now, it’s here in Kerala. It is important for the large number of fans and our kids aspiring to play for the national team that we host more such games,” he told TNIE.
“I remember a generation of Malayali footballers, including me, who grew up watching the many international games played here then,” Pappachan said.
He stressed the importance of staging more international matches, and suggested that such events be thrown open to children to promote their attendance at venues.
For JLN Stadium authorities, too, the match was a godsend. “It was the need of the hour, something that we had been talking to the Kerala Football Association (KFA) about for a long time now. We need more international games, to maintain the newly renovated stadium in its condition,” said an official of the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA), which owns the stadium.
For its part, the KFA is keen to build on the momentum. “We did not expect the level of spectator participation we witnessed on Tuesday. The association is definitely pursuing opportunities to bring more games to state and revive tournaments like the Nehru Trophy,” association president Navas Meeran said.