For the love of Football ... and Brazil

For the love of Football...and Brazil

-Bernard Fernandes

13^th June 2014

I love football, and the two knee surgeries have not lessened my passion for this beautiful game. As youngsters, we in the neighbourhood lived football. We played our own brand of football in the fields, on the seashores, and on the school grounds ... we never tired of it. There was no TV, yet there were thrills aplenty on and off the pitch. I got to witness live games at Campal stadium, and followed closely the progress of my favourite teams and footballers on the radio and the newspapers. My favourite football club at that time was Dempo S C, Goa. I liked their style of play – short ground passes with minimum aerial game and an abundance of deft play. More so, the Dempo team practiced on Don Bosco Panjim – the school that I was studying - grounds every morning, and I recollect stealing a few moments regularly before the school commenced just to watch them exercise and hone their skills at practice. Don Bosco Panjim adopted a similar style of play under the watchful eyes of the shrewd and committed school coach, late Mr. Paes (he happened to be also my Maths teacher in Std. VII), and its attractive style of play won the school not only a number of trophies but also many diehard fans. 

This then explains my love for, nay ‘obsession’ with, Brazil – the country that dishes out samba football as they say.  At every football World Cup I rooted for Brazil – and I was seldom disappointed. The only time I felt let down was the 1998 final in which Ronaldo mysteriously failed to impress, Zinedine Zidane toyed with the opponents and Brazil lived through a nightmare. France walked away with the title. Brazilians at their peak have given their opponents sleepless nights and their fans a feast for the eyes. They mesmerized opponents and viewers alike.  Some of the world cup moments featuring Brazil are etched in my memory: the penalty kicks of the graceful Socrates, the post goal ‘rock the baby’ celebration of Bebeto, the majestic skills of Zico, the dribbles of Ronaldinho, the prolific strikes of Romario, and the opportunistic play of Ronaldo... not forgetting the raw pace generated by the athletic Roberto Carlos by his sudden speed bursts down the wings.  

A live World cup football game featuring Brazil was never missed – and most of the times, it meant staying up late night or early morning to view your favourite stars play. The atmosphere was electric at such moments. A shout here, a sigh there in the company of enthusiastic boarders in the AV room of DB Lonavla, and in the TV rooms of KJC Bangalore and DBYC Pune with my friends and companions. While in the US (the only time I got to watch live action during the day) I had a couple of football crazy pastors –and this is rare in the US given their passion for rugby, baseball and basketball – for company. They provided an ideal ambience for a relaxed viewing of the World Cup games. I must confess that all along, besides Brazil, I did get to enjoy the brilliance of individual play makers– Zinedine Zidane, Diego Maradona, Paulo Rossi, Lionel Messi, the famed Dutch trio of Marco van Basten, Frank Rijkaard and Ruud Gullit, Roger Milla of Cameroon... to name a few. 

The first game featuring Brazil has just ended. Though they won, their brilliance has been patchy in parts.  I’m not sure if they will go on to win the World Cup this time. There are quite some contenders for the title this year: Spain, Germany, Portugal.  And many stars to watch:  Ronaldo, Messi,  Iniesta, Ozil, Rooney. May the best win!  Yet, am hoping for an encore from Brazil, if not the title, at least a display of sublime attractive football skills that connoisseurs would be proud of, and make football fans scream for more.  Over to FIFA World Cup 2014!