While the Spanish team is still rejoicing at their maiden world cup win, I suddenly have this strong urge to quickly run through the memories FIFA 2010 has given me. As it is, never before in my life have I ever felt so involved with the game of football.
Things started developing when I observed an office colleague for over a month before the start of the World Cup. His obsession with the football game, long hours spent surfing the official website of FIFA and daily ‘gyaan’ on everything-football got me interested in the most popular game of the world. I absolutely have no idea what is it with Bengali community (yes, the colleague is a BENGALI) that they speak about football with so much of enthusiasm and passion. It is as if the visible sign of any less enthusiasm and excitement on their face will result in a doomsday.
Seeing him hooked to football world and being exposed to the incessant football trivia that he would through across did the inevitable……… the ‘madness’ rubbed off on to me as well.
I happened to watch my first full match of the 2010 edition with my football-crazy colleague only. After office hours, we were sitting in a nearby rest0-bar waiting for the game to start. My being there had little to do with the passion of the game as I was more kicked up with the idea of boozing while ‘watching’ football. The match (between Spain and Switzerland) got underway. I had chosen to root for Spain from the start. The reason was simple……I had bought a jersey couple of months back which had the name of Spanish footballer ‘Fernando Torres’ (unknown to me till then) on the back. As it was, the match turned out to be the first big upset of the tournament. Switzerland had not only taken the Spanish bull by horns but had it on all fours by the end of the game. Result card read 1-0 in favour of Switzerland. My favourite team had lost the match but the pain was more palpable on my colleague’s face.
This, however, didn’t discourage me. I saw Shakira’s promotional video ‘waka waka’ on idiot box the other day. The video did the trick. By and by, I got immersed into the game. Watching matches, checking internet and newspapers every now and then for football gyan became a regular activity.
Watching underdog teams coming good in the league and final stages was a treat whereas seeing the hot favourites fizzing out just when it mattered the most was painful. England, Brazil, Argentina and finally Germany - the four powerful contenders for the world cup trophy - left their fans stranded with copious tears and anguish.
Finally, my favourite team had its chances that they grabbed with both hands. Winning the world cup at last, Spain rules the soccer world now. Two years after winning the European title, the talented Spaniards did even better at the bigger stage by beating Netherlands by 1-0 margin.
I will remember this world cup for more reasons than one. To start with, it generated my interest in the game. The Jabulani balls for their controversial light weight and Vuvuzelas for the irritating noise are now etched out in my memory for good.
Mr Paul – the unforgettable psychic octopus – who can give a certain Mr Bejan Daruwala a run for his money as all its predictions had a cent percent success record.
With a new-found interest in the game, I am already looking forward to the Euro Cup 2012 now. The World Cup 2014 is on my radar too. Hopefully by then I will have turned into a football encyclopaedia much like my Bengali colleague. But that is still good four years away….for now, goodbye South Africa. And to all my fellow lovers of the game….let’s sing in unison for the last time.......Tsaminamina …Wooo…..ooooooo…WAKA WAKA…this time for Africa!!!
