Kochi: 'In unity lies our greatness,' declared the huge banner that rose in the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium in Kochi as the Kerala Blasters FC entered for their first home match in ISL Season 5 on Friday. It was a tribute to fishermen who had been saviours to thousands in the August flood in Kerala.

The banner depicted a country boat that holds Kerala up above the floodwaters. One end of the boat is supported by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, joined in by a fishing worker, a soldier, a policeman and a nurse. An Indian Navy helicopter hovers above.

The banner rose in the gallery as the Blasters and the Mumbai City FC lined up ahead of the national anthem. It was the Kerala Blasters' fan fraternity 'Manjappada' that displayed for the world the banner touting Kerala's unity in survival efforts.

The Blasters wore a special jersey for the match. The regular yellow jersey had on it the picture of a fisherman rowing his boat, and one of a Naval helicopter lifting up a flood victim.

Blasters'; brand ambassador actor Mohanlal honoured a few fishermen before the match started.