RCB 12th Man Army: Uniting all RCB fans under a single banner

It’s tough being a fan. The naysayer thinks it’s senseless to pursue something to the point of madness and create demigods out of individuals. But naysayers: what do they know of love, the exhilaration, the joy of being connected to a sport, or a team in a manner that it has the power to light up the darkest of days.

On days it is not just about following a game and picking up arguments on social media to defend your favourite team or a cricketer. Sure, there are days when a stat would pop up, forcing a fan to cower. “How do I defend that?”

But fandom is not about defending, there’s no need to defend something you have sworn your allegiance to. And numbers don’t make a fan, anyway. Fandom is not an art to be cherished by those who prefer to analyse numbers over the piousness of emotions.

In a brutal world of social media, however, the noise, sometimes, becomes so loud that ignorance is not even a choice. But the lionhearted does not jump the ship. He unites the likeminded with a similar purpose – to support and cheer for the team they all feel connected to.

RCB fans can truly claim to have seen it all. Their loyalty has been tested the most, and yet they have stuck around - albeit under different factions and groups. 

Over the years, the connect that Royal Challengers Bangalore has established with its fan is a story to cherish. The maddening atmosphere. The chants, the whistle, the oohs, the aahs of the Chinnadwamy makes headlines across the globe. The passion of the fans is what makes the game what it is. The fans have floated on the highs of the success, but never let their support waiver when the lows sunk the morale down. They were there, in solidarity with the team with a belief that the team they root for will make a comeback; and to RCB’s credit they have not disappointed either.

It’s a heart-warming story. It’s a story of ebb and flow. It’s a story of expectations, belief, and passion like no other. But it’s also been a story

that has meandered to unwanted plots at times – different fan groups and clubs with a singular purpose but operating independently and thus creating a clueless situation for those who want to root for their favourite team. But the buck stops here - RCB 12th Man Army.

RCB 12th Man Army is an initiative from fans to bring all the RCB fan clubs, groups, and communities together to cheer for our favourite team in Red. Together we will be the voice behind our team, together we will ensure that every fan’s support reaches the team and the player he roots for. 12th Man Army is the umbrella that seeks to bring them all in.

What the group will do? With fans not allowed in the stadiums, the focus will be on social media - for this season - fostering a healthy environment for sensical discussions, banter, and a whole lot of RCB related stuff. 

These are unprecedented times; our team has travelled to UAE and will be playing without any crowd in the stadium. But that also gives us the opportunity to be stronger than ever.

So, this IPL season, let red be your colour. Does not matter who you are, what group you are a part of – the singular purpose is to back the team and cheer for it. RCB 12th Man Army will roar this season, join the movement and…. Maja Madi

~ Admin: RCB 12th Man Army