ISL 2015: When Chennaiyin fans came to support a Delhi Dynamos hero
The fans thronged the Marina Arena clad in blue ensuring that as much support as possible was given to their heroes as Chennaiyin FC faced Delhi Dynamos in a must-win game. They got what they wanted as Chennaiyin were rampant in a 4-0 thrashing.
Amidst the sea of blue, there was a small pocket of Red as well. A group of around 40 passionate young men singing their hearts out for their hero. That hero was John Arne Riise, the Delhi Dynamos centre-back. That group of young men represented the Madras Kop – the official Liverpool Supporters’ Club in the city.
The Norwegian spent 7 years at Liverpool and was a darling of the fans during his time at the club. Based on today’s evidence, he remains a darling, not just in Liverpool but in all parts of the world.
One thing all of them had in unison was to commend the big match player that Riise was for the Reds. He scored a sumptuous goal in the FA Cup semi-final of 2006 against Chelsea, and the winner against Barcelona at the Camp Nou in the Champions League quarter-final in 2007 – Liverpool remain the only English team to have ever beaten Barcelona at the Camp Nou.
One of the Reds in attendance, Niranjan, said, “If I had to make one complete footballer with one attribute from people who have played, that complete footballer would definitely have John Arne Riise’s left foot.”
Riise has struck many thunderbolts with that left foot, and these fans made no small deal out of that, holding up a banner asking for his left boot.
For many of them, this was a dream come true. One of them, Yogesh quips, “I never imagined that Riise would be 20 feet away from me, waving at me. It was the perfect day for me. As a Liverpool fan, it was huge to see Riise from so close, but as a Chennai boy, I am thrilled with the result.”
Aaditya Sundar, seemingly the leader of this pack, was still coming to terms with the fact that he had met a Kop idol. “I never thought I’d meet any Liverpool player ever. But to have seen [Luis] Garcia last year and now Riise, is absolutely surreal.”
They all have their favourite memories of the Norwegian defender. For one, it was his goal against Chelsea in the FA Cup semi. For another, it was his goal against Barcelona at the Camp Nou.
Krishna, a long-time Reds fan said, “I remember that him and [Craig] Bellamy were involved in a brawl with a golf club before that game, but in the game Bellamy set up Riise’s goal which was Liverpool’s winner. I will never forget that.”
There are memories from Riise’s time at Liverpool which these men will never forget, but tonight in Chennai was unforgettable for them. Be it whether they saw their hero in flesh and blood, or whether their city’s team put on a fantastic display.