VIEWING WORLD CUP 2014-FOOTBALL
I was a
Football player in my very young days in
Dehradun where I studied till class IV. Though all games were played in our
school the most popular was Football, the popularity owed it to the city where
the game was played extensively. I represented my School, St Joseph's Academy
in 4'4” height team! The Irish Brothers coached us. Numerous clubs vied with
each other for the various trophies
which I witnessed, we also saw matches in the city's Football ground
next to the Bus-stand at the Rajpur road. The match between Gurkha Brigade and
Mafatlal I can recollect, the famous
Shyam Thapa had left the Army and joined the Mafatlal, but we cheered our local
team and the old team of Shyam Thapa-The Gurkha Brigade. Gurkha Brigade was
perhaps the only Army team which participated at the highest level. I happened
to be in Delhi the year it Lifted the Durand Cup.
Though I left football and picked up hockey when I went to Allahabad the universality ,bonding, economy ( needs just one leather ball) and charm of the game always fascinated me and I have been watching it regularly on TV since 1986, prior to that we followed the great Pele's World cup achievements and victory through newspapers and sports magazines( TV has contributed to the legend of Maradona!). Sometimes these days I do sit with my son to watch the English Premier League as he is an ardent fan of the Manchester United. However my viewing is deeply influenced by the unfair world order! My ideology, support to the under dog, celebrating the true talent/artistry. I cannot enjoy the Game in a neutral manner/ for the sake of the game. However players like Messi are an exception ;the club and country to which he belongs does not matter, he as well as his admirers have transcended that!
In the present world cup
my support to a team in a match is governed by the above factors. Take the case
of the Switzerland; despite its beauty and neutrality in the two Wars I cannot
support it for its Banking policy and system wherein it is party to the
generation and encouragement of Black money, therefore I was supporting
Argentina in the pre-quarterfinal and was overjoyed when at the dying moments
of the 30 minutes extra time Messi facilitated the goal. I am not a supporter
of any European team, I desire the final to be played between two South
American teams .This would be a befitting reply to the years and years of
domination, subjugation. The other day my heart broke when Mexico lost to
Netherland despite leading by a goal. It was ironic and satisfying to see
England and Spain returning home without entering the last 16 stage, the two
World conquerors !
My support was for France in its match against
Germany . I know that French suffer from cultural superiority and their
attitude toward Indians visiting France is rude but when weighed against the
Germans it was acceptable. Following images conjure- the French Revolution,
Rousseau- Voltaire, the French wine! In case of the Germans their baggage of
the holocaust subdues all their achievements. My favorite was Chile their loss
to Brazil was sad. When I think of Chile among the other contenders I recall
the assassination of Salvador Allende in the Seventies, we were students then
and felt that it was a terribly wrong done to the leftist leader with the
support of the US who did not want Communist foothold! I think of Pablo Neruda
and his poems. Last night Costa Rica lost to Netherland in Quarterfinals, the
match was a Draw even after the extra time and they lost in Penalty shoot out ,it
would have been historical had they won !My friends predict finals between
Germany and Netherland, but I would be happy to see the Finals between
Argentina and Brazil with Argentina lifting the Cup .
Football ranking should
not follow the existing economic order,
even if it has been invented by the English it has been made beautiful by the Latin American Nations who
should be duly rewarded; but they have to fight!
