Loving every minute of the beautiful game!

2006 is football year; actually football year happens every time FIFA hosts the World Cup finals, because there’s no absence of football during the two-month gap between the leagues. We now have the World Cup! And I love every kick, cross, tackle and pass of it, apart from the fact that I don’t own a TV, yet!

If you ask me, I’d rather watch a couple of football games than sit through an entire day or cricket. Not that I hate cricket, but there’s something exciting about football that keeps my eyes glued to the screen. I remember my first proper World Cup — Italia 90. It was the first time that we actually got to watch more than just a few matches. For the 1986 finals, DD (our only hope then) hardly showed too many games apart from the semis and the final (I think). That was when Italy was on a roll, I still remember the match against Argentina in which Italian goalkeeper Walter Zenga finally got beaten, by a chance header by Claudio Canigga. Of course, Argentina suffered in the finals, conceding a penalty (which I still think shouldn’t have happened) and Lothar Mattheus took the cup home to Germany. I was 11 and even though I watched football, played it throughout school, I fell in love with the game.

I’ve never had a favourite team to support though. I somehow can’t do that. Though, I sit and evaluate the bigger teams and decide who is capable of reaching the semis. After that, it’s anybody’s game. Then, I’ll wait till the two teams come through and then I decide which one I want to win. Sounds weird? Well, maybe, to someone who supports one single team throughout, but I have too many players I admire and I love to watch. When it comes to clubs, you’ll find me cheering for Arsenal and Barcelona (both of which might make it to the Champions League finals and then I’ll be in a dilemma all over again).

I’d love to see Brazil win, simply because they would break records. European teams have always won the World Cups in Europe though Brazil is the only team to have won outside their continent (2004). But then again, it’ll be so nice to see Spain, Holland or Argentina come through, something different for a change. Ahh…me and my ‘expert’ opinions! It will be fun though, wouldn’t it? Watching the likes of Thierry Henry, Ronaldinho, Leo Messi and others battle it out for football supremacy. I’m already making plans — where to watch what. And since the Champions League final isn’t far away either, it’s down to footballing heaven for me. I’ve met many football fans among the tourists that I’ve run into. And even though most of them were English, a few of them actually didn’t fancy England’s chances. I was surprised. Not that I think they’ll win, but they actually outlined their reasons why. And it’s fun discussing football with the people who know how to evaluate tactics and strategy, rather than the many who say, “I think this team’s going to win.” Why? “They’re good!” Eh? And that’s your answer?

If you’re wondering where I’m going with this, stop! I don’t know either… I’m just excited, that’s all. I’ll be in Goa, and the frenzy is going to reach fever pitch in June. What better place to be in India than here, right? That reminds me, anyone got a TV set to lend me? I’m leaning towards a 29-incher with surround sound. I’ll give it back as soon as I buy my dream set, which should be somewhere in 2010. In the meantime, here’s to the football fans of the world (and Goa)… Cheers!

April 19, Gomantak Times, Goa

Prayer for the dying

It was the day of the cricket match that I got a call from a friend of mine. They had a bad experience at the cricket stadium when they went there to watch the match and so they left halfway and came back. They couldn’t even understand why, when they went to the police for help, none was given. Luckily, there was only about Rs 500 in the wallet that was stolen. What was not lucky was the fact that his driving licence and Inland Revenue card, as well as his bank cards were in the wallet, too. Fortunately, he plans to go back to England in less than two weeks, so it won’t be too much of a problem.

I, on the other hand, was sad. Sad because I didn’t have an answer to give them, when they asked me why the police didn’t help. People often wonder out aloud, in my presence, how is it that things like this happen and that we let it pass. I remember a friend who lost his bag once, in a crowded train in Mumbai. He didn’t lament the few books and DVDs, what he did miss was the little present for his girlfriend that he had saved up for months. Ok, so the thieves are heartless. But why are they doing what they’re doing? Has poverty driven people to do these things? Of course it has, and that is just the beginning. Murder, rape, armed robbery and more… All these crimes occur every day of our lives. And we turn a blind eye, until something happens to us. People also wonder, how is it, that road accidents kill people and still there are rash drivers, speed demons and plain old fools who race through the streets, not caring about who they could injure or kill. More often than not, they are the ones who escape with just a few scrapes and bruises while others die, for doing nothing wrong. They were just at the wrong place at the wrong time.

We got lots of letters for the edit page, where Goans wrote in to say they were saddened by the fact that the riots shamed Goa. People were harassed and property was damaged. I don’t think I can recall the last time someone wrote in to say they were shamed by the fact that people are killed everyday, on Goan roads. No one has ever written in to say that they were saddened by the accidents that occur every single day. What are you waiting for? Someone to run down your loved one before you have to get up out of your armchair, the same place where you sit and criticise everything, to protest against this? Look at the stats. Walk up to your nearest police station and ask them to tell you how many people died this month in road accidents. A little kid died a few days ago, along with his father. A truck with its lights off smashed their car. That little kid probably didn’t even know what hit him. That little kid will never be able to grow up, fall in love, play a sport, watch a movie or do anything else. What did that kid ever do to die like that? It could be you. It could be your kid.

I’ve seen everyone in such a hurry to go to wherever they’re going, that they just don’t care who they slow down, how they cross lanes, who they endanger or what they do to get there. They just need to reach point B. I’ve almost been run over by a bus, a truck and a crazy guy in a Scorpio who definitely needs his high-beam shone in his own face, so that he realises what it is to drive like that, not being able to see for about 10 seconds — enough time for one to miss a dog, a pig or a vehicle in their way. And that’s the case with 90 per cent of the cars on the road. If you can’t beat them, join them. Is that what it has come to? Follow the rules no matter what and somewhere down the line things will change. That’s what I’ve always hoped. Now it seems, that it could also kill me. How sad is that?
So, if you ever see someone on a Bullet with his middle finger sticking right at you, switch to low beam on and then say hi. I’ll wave back!

April 5, Gomantak Times, Goa