Along the coast, it’s a wave of football frenzy

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: “Perdao, Mas Hoje...” thus began a long sentence with smattering of Portuguese and Spanish on a giant hoarding at Pozhiyoor Junction. It ended with the popular chant ‘Vamos Argentina’. What does it mean? “Who knows, we believe it is an exhortation to our team and Messi. It looks different from the rest, don’t you feel so?” asked Aneesh, a budding footballer at Pozhiyoor. You cant disagree when you see his smile.
Here, festoons in sky blue and white crisscross byroads amid fluttering flags on either side of the narrow bridge that leads to the sprawling football ground. James Rodriguez and Cristiano Ronaldo strike perfect poses with trending dialogues from blockbusters, including the latest flick Kaala. And surely the one that flashes an alien language does look different and Argentina has taken the lead here for the time being.

The plans are just beginning to unspool at Pozhiyoor. They had a late-night meeting on Tuesday. “We are beginning with a procession on Thursday from Adimalathura to Vallavila. Our model Fifa football tournament will be held for three days from June 29 to July 1,” said Kiran, who is a Kerala University player. Twelve model teams will stage a parallel World Cup at St Mathews Recreation club stadium.

The teams also include India, which comprises the elderly lot of the village who had always dreamt about their nation participating in a World Cup. High-quality jerseys will be sponsored by natives employed in the Gulf. Some of them have extended their leave for one month and others have promised to fly home with jerseys for the model World Cup.

Everyone shells out Rs 500 for posters, flex and hoardings. Catchy taglines are discussed on WhatsApp groups like the Argentina one which is flooded with Messi magic videos, theme songs and memes mocking rivals. “It is going to be our sixth model World Cup. This year we have formed teams among ourselves,” says Terry who calls himself the managercum-player of ‘Team Colombia’. He had been fishing for the past three days. “You can’t stay away from here for long when its World Cup. You feel desperate to come back, it’s our life blood,” he said.

Vice-captain Seesan Selvan and Lijo Siluvacrez who were part of the Kerala team that lifted Santhosh trophy will be the stars at the event. A 20X20 ft large screen will be put up on stage in front of St. Mathew’s church for screening matches. Lijo nodded at the youngest of the lot; Shanu and said: “We have kids here who have become a part of us throughout the planning and conduct of these events. This game has gifted us jobs, help us make a living and this is the way we pay it back,” said the SBI employee.

Things are slightly glum at Valiyathura. The football ground is occupied by fishing boats as the beach has been completely devoured by the sea. But, this has not disheartened Sajan, a young member of St Antony’s football club. He braved the rain to tie the green and red festoon; the colour of his team Portugal, while he sat precariously on the edge of a concrete wall.

A huge flag of Argentina swayed in the air over Shanghumugham by evening, held by a youth with goggles and colour-tinted face. Kids carrying posters of Messi skated on the ground as fans erupted into frenzied shouts of support.

Former footballer Ignatius Sylvester watched on from the side, his kid on his shoulders as fans from neighbouring clubs, all die-hard Argentina supporters, gathered around waving flags. “Usually we would put up a large screen here, but this year we have lost the beach. This event is a curtain raiser, almost all clubs have assembled here in support of their favourite team,” he said.