FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017: Kochi sees unprecedented demand for tickets

Fans queued up outside the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi to collect tickets. (Source: Express Photo)

Even as the Local Organising Committee (LOC) and the Sports Ministry hand out free passes and tickets to ensure a ‘sell-out’ crowd for the opening game of the FIFA U-17 World Cup in New Delhi as reported by the Indian Express, there is no such problem in Kochi which hosts a number of matches including the quarter-final. In fact, tickets here are hard to find with many fans left disappointed. A look at the online ticketing website will show you that tickets across every category for all eight matches in the city have been sold out.

On Friday morning, a sudden downpour could not dampen the mood outside the ticket booths in front of the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium in Kaloor. Standing beside large puddles of water, nearly 200-odd people waited in queues to collect tickets, many among them having booked online. While large barricades have come up outside the stadium to deter stray sections of the public, under a big white canopy, a senior police officer spelled out directions to his juniors on how to handle the public on Saturday for the big Brazil-Spain clash. Hundreds of women constables trooped into the canopy as light showers continued outside.

Even though the stadium has a 55-000 seating capacity, only 29,000 seats are being filled as authorities cite security reasons.

Naveen KH, fan in Kochi, booked tickets for Brazil-Spain three months ago. (Express photo)

“This is a good-capacity stadium. They must have reduced seats anticipating heavy congestion. This way, fans can comfortably sit and watch the match,” said 26-year-old Naveen KH, who booked his tickets for the Brazil-Spain clash three months ago on the internet.

Nithin TS, 21, who is a student of BCA and is a big fan of the ISL franchise Kerala Blasters, however, feels everyone should be able to watch the matches in the city.

“Stadium adipoli aanu,” he said, using the heavily-used Malayalam term for ‘excellent.’ “They should have increased the seats. They say security reasons but everyone should be able to watch,” he added.

Even as Nithin and a bunch of others stood in lines to collect their online tickets, a man arrived with a megaphone announcing that all tickets being given over the counter were sold out, leading to gasps and shouts from the public.

“They asked us to stand in queues saying there are 98 tickets. Without actually selling a single ticket, they are now saying tickets are over. Why did they say that? How can tickets be over?,” wondered a disappointed football fan.

‘Fans make a stadium’

Kerala’s association and fascination for football is not new. Unlike other Indian states where cricket takes precedence, Kerala and especially the Malabar region lights up in feverish excitement every time the World Cup comes calling. The historic Brazil-Argentina rivalry finds deep resonance in the state too with giant billboards and posters plastered over small towns and villages. Upping the excitement level is the recent popularity of the Indian Super League and the local Kerala Blasters team.

“A stadium needs good fans. When I come to watch ISL games here, there’s always a lot of excitement and cheering. Even foreign players have talked about the fans here,” said Rolly, who works as an animator at a local news channel.

Fans were left bitterly disappointed with the tickets sold out. (Source: Express photo)

Rolly is a native of Parappur in Thrissur which has put a number of good players under the spotlight including CV Pappachan who was a part of the Kerala Police team that won two Federation Cups. Thrissur district also produced IM Vijayan, one of the finest Indian football players who came to be called ‘karutha muthu’ (black pearl) by fans.

But Thrissur also has a personal connection with the U-17 World Cup. Rahul Praveen, the only Malayali player in the 21-member national team, is a native of Thrissur.

“It is a great moment of pride for us,” said Naveen with a smile.