“Sab khelar sera bangalirtumi football”.

Remember this famous song from a popular Bengali movie “DhanyiMeye”. Starring MahanaykUttam Kumar, Sabitri, Tarun Kumar, Partha, Jaya Bhaduri, Rabi Ghos, JaharGanguly and many other eminent artists, the movie was based on and wedged around a football match. Does it surprise you that Kolkata football fans get crazy during their derby, especially East Bengal-Mohan Bagan duel? But the real fever grips the City of Joy during FIFA World Cup. The disease is contiguous but everyone is crazy to catch it.

World Cup? It’s Happening Here

The World Cup Football is called “The greatest show on the earth”. The tournament has recently ended in Qatar. Argentina has come off victorious by beating France in the tie-breaker. Throughout the month, the city witnessed insane craze among the football fans. The all-consuming passion took over everything else. Whether at chai kiadda, grocery stores, college campus or family get-together, everyone seemed to be occupied by football frenzies. As if the event is organized right in Kolkata and not in Qatar.

Kolkatansget divided. But during the Football World Cup, they are divided not across party lines, but their favourite teams. All over the city, from narrow lanes to wide roads, from homes to local clubs, you can see the flags of their favourite teams fluttering with pride and prejudice. Everyone looks confidentthat their team will win the trophy this time. One could see the grafiti on the walls of homes, clubs, pubs, offices and many other places. Small flags of favourite countries are stuck to a wire suspended on two poles, each on either side of the road. These sights will immediately remind you that the city is shivering with fever but it is not complaining.

In many places across the city, giant screens are installed for the animated fans. It is amazing to watch the sea of crowds rooting for their favourite teams. They did not mind staying awake late at night to catch the live action. Fans are painting their face after the flags of their favourite teams. Some are having tattoos of their beloved players on arms. Joyous celebration after goals and team’s win and dejected faces after penalty miss and defeat keeps the city alive to the enthusiasms and euphoria that the Kolkata crowd feel about footballs and footballers.  Exuberance is palpable everywhere. 

To many fans, it is not just a tournament but a festival where great minds, great feet and great brains come together. The event sets the stage for the clash of titans. It is an even playing field for all the participants. The skill, the presence of mind and the focus matter only. Any player with these qualities can set the stage on fire. Stars are born, some go into oblivion and some live up to their names. To the fans, it is a riot of colours, chorus and champions and they enjoy every bit of it. The tournament brings a feel of magic to their otherwise mundane life.

You can see a slice of the excitement at Maidan, sandy banks of the river and even in the narrow lanes where little boys are playing football. When playing, some kids take on new names after their favourite footballers. These names stand for greatness, focus, hard work and achievement. Many of these star players symbolize a journey “from rugs to riches”. To these kids, teenagers and millions of the fans, these football maestros are the real-life magicians who have proved that “impossible is a word never found” in a dreamer’s dictionary.

Revisiting History

Football is not only a game for Kolkatans, but also a deep-seated fantasy that they love and live in. And as soon as the World Cup kicks in, the Kolkatans are divided in several teams. Before 1986, the Kolkatans used to support Brazil unanimously. Why not? Those – obviously they were a few in numbers as TV was a luxury in those days – who watched Pele, Garincha in action, could not think about supporting another team. But then, it all went for a toss in 1986.

It was a ‘vini, vidi and vici” for him. He came, he played, he conquered and he won millions of hearts throughout the world. Diego Maradona – the man, the sensation! Since then, the Kolkantanshave always formed two teams – Brazil and Argentina. For them, the tournament became synonymous with yellow-green vs. blue-white. With the passage of time, more divisions became obvious as we got supporters for Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, Holland and even Croatia. One thing that has managed to stand strong against the tide of time is organic, unbridled and incredible football craze.

Indian men’s football team is ranked at 106th and women’s team is ranked at 61st in FIFA World Football Ranking. Therefore, it is really amazing to see such a soaring and all-pervading craze for the game. Bongs have always been known for their passion of raising storm over tea cup. And during the last one-month fight with feet and ball, the game occupied every inch and minute of their talk. And this time, they not only fought over their favourite teams; at the end of the day, the brawl boiled down to who would get the Golden Boot and Golden Ball.

“Who will have the last laugh?” “Will it be Messi, the messiah, Ronaldo, the goal machine or the Neymar, the naughty?” “What about Mbappe, the most promising star?” Now we all have the answer. Some left the field with a hanging smile, some cried like a child and some, at the end of the match, stared with a deadpan look. Kolkatanscelebrated with their heroes and cried with the crestfallen stars too. They celebrated great goals and even praised greatness of the opponents. That’s why we saw many Brazilians badly wanted Messi to win the cup. This is because,Kolkatanslove football and admire “the greats on the greens”.

The city will get back to its normal rhythm but will always rewind and relive the moments. It will spring to its feet again after four years. Till then, the city will live with lovely football memories.