Bengaluru FC: A coalesce of glory and community

In its short history, Bengaluru FC has quickly become the state's most successful and beloved sports club. On its own merit, the club has instilled a sense of pride, optimism, and euphoria around a sport that was lacking the similar acclaim that cricket receives in India.

The history of Hampi, the grandeur of the Mysore Palace, the buzz around Bangalore's food streets, and the echoes that ring around the Kanteerava Stadium – all this and more, truly is the essence of Bengaluru FC and its fans. On the heart of the Bengaluru FC kit lies the Gandaberunda - the two-headed mythological bird that is said to possess magical might, which represents the strength, resilience, and pride of the people. What truly defines the club are the intangibles it has achieved by swimming against the tide.

In dealing with the aftermath of COVID-19’s impact on the global sports industry, Bengaluru FC’s away-jersey launch united fans to rally behind the club and express their approval of the kit design. The new Bengaluru FC's away kit for the 2020-21 season has received high praise from the club's fans, deepening its connection within the city. The JSW Group has returned for a second stint as the club’s principal sponsor. Bringing the essence of Karnataka onto the Bengaluru FC kit is a task headed by Mr. Piyush Jain - the Head of Design at the club, and his team. Discussing the design concept of the kit, Piyush said: "The idea behind the away jersey is to carry the monumental Karnataka spirit with us when we play outside the state. Simultaneously, we intended to keep the look of the kit simple.”

The jersey features red and yellow seams on its sleeves and collar as a homage to the State of Karnataka. Piyush continued: "When you keep things simple, and then support the ideology with suitable actions, your messaging becomes both honest and heartfelt." Karnataka has traditionally had the turmeric and vermillion colored flag, which is symbolic of 'Arishina' and 'Kumkuma'. The "Kannada" flag, comprising the colors red and yellow, has naturally come to represent the state’s rich cultural heritage, and has a special in the hearts of all Kannadigas. Like the flag, sporting clubs associated with the state too have become cultural icons.

Discussing the importance of football jerseys, Piyush explained: "Simply put, the kit is one of the things that you would remember if we won a championship." But the beautiful game is not all about winning or losing. For Bengaluru FC, the community is at the forefront of its success: "Whether a person is a football fan or not, looking at this away kit sporting the Karnataka colors, they are bound to have a soft spot for the club which goes beyond to make everyone a part of it", he said.

Bengaluru FC's marquee signing for their debut season was Indian captain Sunil Chhetri, where they then went on to win the title, drawing in a lot of fans. When asked about the environment around Bengaluru FC and the Indian captain, Piyush replied: "Chhetri has always been vocal about his love for the club and the city, which he considers his home. The open culture at the club ensures that all players feel free to knock on any staff members' door to have candid and fair conversations about their time and life at Bengaluru FC."

Posing as a reference model for future clubs, BFC has redefined professionalism in Indian football and ushered in a sense of pride for a sport that had been relatively undervalued in the Indian subcontinent. But success on the pitch doesn’t guarantee sustenance. By successfully unifying the club with the local community, the club can be credited for mobilizing India's younger generation of football fans and giving them hope.

At the Sree Kanteerava Stadium, which is widely known as 'The Fortress', songs and chants in both English and Kannada, emanate from the stands non-stop and have become an icon of Bengaluru. Reflecting on the club's quick rise to fame and the phenomena of the West Block, Piyush said: "From singing 'Santoshake' to cheering goals, words can’t do justice to describe the kind of atmosphere created in the stadium during match days. We have this belief in our office, that if you watch one match for 90 minutes, you'll never miss another game." Emotions are high and throats go hoarse in this cauldron of Bengaluru FC’s zealous supporters. Their intent to get involved is evident, by coming up with popular chants like "Oh when the blues go marching in...", "Namma ooru Bengaluru, Who are we? BFC!", to create an intimidating atmosphere for the visiting teams.

"As a story, it (the jersey) feels good. With the fans and players on board, we truly have grown more accessible to our community", Piyush said. Bengaluru FC has modernized the way football is played and packaged in India, but the process has not taken place overnight. What it takes is remarkable adherence to the processes that have been put in place. On paper, team manager Carles Cuadrat has his first team organized with three or four spots on the rosters to be filled. This continuity has ensured lasting success for Bengaluru FC across the spectrum of Indian football.