![\"1006\"](\"https:\/\/indiansportsnews.co.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/1006.jpg\")
Even as dark clouds hover over Mumbai and thunder crashes with steady rain, a blanket of royal blue covers the stands of Andheri Sports Complex reflecting undying passion and most importantly the relentlessness to battle the rain to support the Nation.<\/p>\n
At a time when on maybe all in Mumbai would prefer to stay indoors to stay away from the wet, the Pilgrims, consisting of fans across all Football Clubs in India feel a bit different \u2013 they prefer to flock to the Mumbai Football Arena the day before to create something special for the Team.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are making something that has never been done in Indian football before. We will be putting a 3D Tifo on display tomorrow for the final,\u201d informs one of the blue pilgrims. \u201cIt will be magnificent. This is our way of showing our support and cheering for the team.\u201d<\/p>\n
From a distance you see some of them completely drenched, their wet T\u2019Shirts, pants and shoes. But they stay engrossed with the paint and the brushes. There\u2019s a senior artist who is working on the sketch and everyone wants to play their part. They say, \u2018Too many cooks spoil the broth,\u2019 but surely not this time.<\/p>\n
You move around to talk to them. They greet you but stay unwilling to get their names published. \u201cBehind the scenes, that\u2019s our workplace,\u201d is the generic sentiment. \u201cWe are the pilgrims, not individual stars.\u201d<\/p>\n
The biggest star of the country, however, salutes the Pilgrims. National Team Captain Sunil Chhetri says: \u201cThey are absolutely brilliant.\u201d<\/p>\n
After a pause, the man adds: \u201cThere are some 300 or more travelling fans. They are struggling for accommodation and are coming from all parts of the Country. Mind you, most of them are college students and maybe don\u2019t have the money. But their passion surpasses everything.\u201d<\/p>\n
Right from the Viking clap to the \u2018Vande Maatram\u2019 from the \u2018Sunil Chhetri poster\u2019 to the \u2018Inqualab-e-Indian Football banner,\u2019 the Pilgrims are the perfect example that fans can actually rally behind the team as the 12th<\/sup> man.<\/p>\n Come the summit clash, the drums will be out as will the banners. They will always be there to cheer for their heroes. As they said in chorus: \u201cResults don\u2019t matter. We are part of the upward movement, that is Indian Football. \u201cWeAreIndia. We #BackTheBlue and have an #AsianDream.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJai Hind.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Even as dark clouds hover over Mumbai and thunder crashes with steady rain, a blanket of royal blue covers the stands of Andheri Sports Complex reflecting undying passion and most importantly the relentlessness to battle the rain to support the Nation. At a time when on maybe all in Mumbai would prefer to stay indoors […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":36146,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-36147","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-world-football-news"],"yoast_head":"\n