Football Fever in Faridabad
Much before cricket usurped all games to become the king of sports in India, there were other games that were followed and played passionately in every corner of the country. One of them was football. In fact, a match between arch rivals MohunBagan and East Bengal would often bring the entire state of west Bengal to a halt. Offices and roads would be deserted as people glued in to the TV and, earlier, to the radio. Every dribble, every pass and feint would be discussed and analysed in great details. It was not uncommon for people to come to blows over a difference of opinion!
Supporters of one team were often wary of the supporters of the other team. Posters of favourite players adorned office walls and found pride of place next to images of the gods! Budding players would invariably have jerseys with their favourite players'name and number in their lockers ready to be donned at a moment’s notice.
These Clubs often took a leaf out of the premier English Clubs and brought in players from distant lands in an effort to strengthen their team and consolidate their position. Invariably, most of the foreign players were from Africa. These players were renowned for their blistering speed on the field and powerful kicks. They also brought in a sense of achievement for the team, which having hitred them for a fat fee, was eager to show them off.
Sadly, today the game has been relegated to the back with the big bucks being heaped on Cricket. For the discerning, the land of over a billion has many budding players who, given the proper training and backing, is a natural Pele or a Maradona. After all, this was once a passion for people of all ages all the way from Ferokh in Kerala to Faridabad in Haryana.
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