Going into their big Indian Super League derby clash against Chennaiyin FC, Kerala Blasters went to rather extreme lengths in order to give their side a much needed boost.
With a certain Marco Materazzi their opposite sides manager, the man most famous for receiving a hefty blow to the chest from Zinedine Zidane during the 2006 World Cup final, fans don thousands of Zizou masks in order to get under the skin of the former Everton and Inter Milan centre half.
Images of the greatest Frenchman to ever player the game’s mug circulated on social media in India ahead of the big fixture.
According to the message, some 35,000 Zidane masks will be available to wear in the terraces of Kerala’s Kochi Stadium.
Written in Malayalam, the caption reads: “Friends, I will be at (the stadium) with these masks if you are ready to buy it”.
While the two sides enjoy a fiery rivalry even without the derisive Materazzi’s involvement, Kerala have taken particular exception to the World Cup winner after he was dealt a suspension the last time the teams met for “misconduct against opponents or persons other than match officials”.
Classic Materazzi.
Indeed the moved perhaps proved effective as the Kerala Blasters fought back after being a goal down at the break to win 3-1, their first league win over their Southern rivals.