Football fever is becoming evident as Brazil beckons the best of the world. The home of football is just about ready, and work is reaching finishing stages in some venues. The players and teams have identified their strengths and weaknesses, and massive tactical exercises have been worked out. Legions of fans are preparing to converge from all corners of the world to participate in a truly global event.
Closer home, Chittaranjan Park, for years the nerve of football in the Capital, along with the Walled City, is gradually being transformed into a theatre of excitement. Expectations and passions run high among the football crazy residents of this south Delhi colony. Every big football competition invites a fierce response from the fans in CR Park. It is no different this time too.
The Walled City, once the lifeline of footballers to the Delhi team, lacks visibility when it comes to celebrating a sporting event. “There is hardly any space for you to walk. Where is the room to organise a community viewing of World Cup matches,” is football-promoter Syed Shaheen’s lament.
World Cup becomes party time in Kolkata and Goa. Some pockets are transformed into a sea of colour, depicting various teams, as fans display the flags and playing attire of their favourite teams. It is a tradition that has grown in Kolkata and Goa. Down south, Kerala and Tamil Nadu have similar platforms, but on a much smaller scale compared to Kolkata and Goa. In the Capital, it is mostly restricted to CR Park.
For 32-year-old sports commentator Debayan Sen, it is a pleasant time to be in CR Park or Kolkata. “Each home is a mini stadium. Essentially there are two camps, Brazil and Argentina. It is madness really. Most East Bengal fans cheer for Argentina and Brazil has its fan base in Mohun Bagan supporters. The arguments can be crazy, sometimes lasting the entire night. There is cheering and clapping. If you are not watching, you would know who has scored from the house that the cheer emanates from. I have fond memories of CR Park and its association with the World Cup,” reflects Sen.
Large screens spring up in public parks as various neighbourhood groups come together to follow the World Cup. Abhijoy Basu, former Delhi football captain, has lived in CR Park since birth and has seen the area grow and become known for its obsession with football. “World Cup time is special. You have to see the bleary eyed citizens of CR Park during the World Cup to understand their love for football. It is not going to be any different this time too. It will be more because Brazil is the host. The last three World Cups have seen some big screens in the parks. Many restaurants are going to put up such screens because they want people to come out of their homes but late night matches might be a dampener for them. But not for us! We form a group that watches the entire World Cup together, not missing a single match,” gushes Basu, who is also an ‘A’ License coach.
Old Delhi had unstinted supply of football talent from schools in the walled city but the interest has waned. For residents of Old Delhi, the World Cup is like any other tournament. Support for European teams is greater, insists former footballer Mohammad Raees. “Germany and France are popular. Unfortunately, the local association has no plans. If only they could organise a big screen at the Ambedkar Stadium it would attract football fans in hundreds. It can be a sort of football festival. You can have a football bazaar,” he offers as a suggestion.
Clubs are gearing up too. Former state players and coach Tarun Roy is organising a two-day tournament of eight teams, all named after the quarterfinalists of the last World Cup. “It is the best way to herald the World Cup. I have watched matches at the Maracana Stadium in Rio and know what craze for football means. I am looking forward to watching the matches (on big screen) at the Mela ground (in CR Park). Around 1000 people turn up to watch,” says Tarun.
The Mela ground is the Maracana of CR Park and certainly worth a visit once the World Cup kicks off on June 12.
