Socccer : Life or A way of Life

“Some say football is a matter of life and death. I am really disappointed by this attitude; it is something much more than that!!” – Bill Shanky, legendary Liverpool football manager.

From the above quote it is simple what football can mean to any soccer lover, to what extent his association can go. 

My 1st exposure to the game as a kid goes back to 1980s somewhere around 1985-86. One Saturday afternoon my grandfather switched on the television set (we used to have the old B&W Webel television). Those days there was only one channel. I thought maybe it was the usual weekend movie time. I sat by his side. But to my surprise I found some men kicking about a ball---I never understood what was it---on enquiry I came to know it was football being played in Kolkata. During the match more than the TV set I watched my grandfather’s reactions. I asked him what was going on and what were these clubs. He told me one was East Bengal  (who dawned red & yellow colour), the other Mohan Bagan (green and maroon brigade)—needless to mention colours were not on the screen you had to keep it in mind. The East Bengal jersey looked grey while the Mohan Bagan jersey black. Grandfather told me East Bengal was representing the “Bangals” & Mohan Bagan the “Ghotis”. At that time I never knew of this “Ghoti-Bangal” issue. I asked my grandfather which category we belonged. The following conversation was short but sharp.

Me : Amra Ki ? (who are we?)
Grand Father : Bangal
Me : Tumi kake support korchho ? (who are you supporting?)
Grand Father : East Bengal, "Bangal" mane East Bengal supporter. (Bangal imples East Bengal)

Needless to explain from that moment I knew I was East Bengal supporter. Thus association with my club started and still it stands above any other team. One thing was clear if you were a Bengali with Hindu origin you were by default an East Bengal or a Mohan Bagan supporter, you cannot escape the truth. It is a great feeling when you are there at the Salt Lake Stadium for a derby match. It’s a special feeling; you can feel it only when you are there. The ecstasy, the silence all define the moments perfectly. It is not just another match, for some it is bigger than life. It is just there you cannot replace it, the involvement is of the highest order, something beyond the feel materialistic world. Kolkata Derby is one the oldest & famous derbies of the world witnessing crowds of over 120-thousands at times.

But it was around the 1994 when I really became soccer lover. Exposure to international football became easier & inevitable. The World Cup turned me soccer lover. Before that to me Maradona was the only star I had seen and like others sort of worshipped him without understanding anything. 

In 1994 World Cup I saw the Italians, their resilience in Baresi-Maldini and the flair of Baggio. Romerio-Bebeto were doing great job but to me the resilience appeared more attractive than the flair of the game. So, I became an Italian supporter. 

For the next 4-5 years Juventus, AC Milan matches often appeared on Doordarshan during the weekends. Following Italian soccer was now easy. Zidane in Juventus was a treat to watch, hence 1998 World Cup was not a surprise. As a kid or youth looking at the Maldinis and Baggios to me it seemed the Greek Gods have descended to the football field. 

Post 1997 satellite television (cable tv) was in our house, so weekends were special. I enjoyed watching Figo, Rivaldo, Beckham, Nedved besides the Maldinis, Ambrosinis, Cannavaros, Tottis. But I enjoyed watching Rivaldo, mostly because much like a Gladiator, he carried a defence & spirit less Barcelona on his shoulders. Speed was not Rivaldo's key to success, nor eye catching dribbling but a lazy elegance which is rare in soccer, where a thousand things might be going on between the years but not reflecting on the face.

The single most influential player post Maradona era was Zinedine Zidane, but for me it was Steven Gerrard. The man single handedly gave Liverpool the 2005 Champions League trophy from an impossible situation. I was stunned to see AC Milan having taken a 3-0 lead in 1^st half faltered to Steve Gerrard. A typical one man show & this became Gerrard’s trade mark for the next 4-5 years and he continued enjoying the status and pulling out Liverpool from tough situations like 2006 FA Cup final. It was a tragedy the world could not see some one like Steve G not lifting an EPL in his prime or a World Cup or Euro, much like a George Best not playing a World Cup. 

Off late the commercial aspects have killed a lot of the skills of the game. Tackling from behind was an important aspect of the game & post 1990 World Cup it came under huge scanner & this has resulted too much of false dive & easy fouls. Video analysis & Strategies have made the Managers bigger than the Players. This has resulted more trophies/results for the clubs but killed the basic flair of the game.

Note : Picture Courtesy Google