This is with reference to the edit ‘For players to be on the field, there need to be fans on the stands’ by Alexandre Barbosa (Herald, 24 Oct). Firstly, kudos Sir for putting pen to paper and bringing out the true Goan attitude to a game falsely loved by Goa.
It was truly well highlighted about how Goa shunned the most spectacular football event in the world. There were multiple reasons and all those were categorically stated in black and white. Goa has claimed in the past decades that this was the football capital of the country. We couldn’t prove that or back up that claim in the past month. We claim there were no Goans in the team and decided to boycott the event. Once again, we lost that battle too.
We Goans have always been prejudiced to outsiders and this time, we allowed that to infuse into our self-proclaimed love for football. Wouldn’t you say that this was a form of racism? Did it really matter WHO played for India or was the GAME more important? This is disturbingly sad. This attitude has shoved us back by 20 years to say the least. FIFA watched and FIFA has noted. Believe me, the outcome of this event spells doom for all future events in Goa. I’ve seen this happening in other states as well. FIFA and UEFA do NOT tolerate injustice and racist behavior in any team and the same goes for the citizens of every country.
It was indeed sad to see so many matches with a handful of spectators. Has anyone spared a thought for what the players may have felt, when they walked out to empty stands? Was it not demoralising and depressing for them? Did they not expect a better reception? What makes Brazil and England so special? Brazil and England are where they are because of the teams they have beaten in the past. Having said that, should we not have respected those other teams? Had it not been for them, Brazil and England would have been NOBODIES.
Germany also came to Goa, in case people have forgotten. Germany was a powerhouse in the not so distant past. Why are we so biased and prejudiced to the rest of the world?
Finally, let’s take a comparison on 2 major events that happened in Goa – The FIFA U-17 WC and the glamorous ISL. For those who attended both the events, what was the difference in the quality and standard of football? What was the difference in the quality and standard of the players? Who deserved more recognition – aged, retired, balding footballers OR young, energetic, ambitious youngsters who are the future of this beautiful sport? I’ll leave you to ponder on those questions but I pray that better sense prevails in the future to protect the glorious sport we know as – FOOTBALL.
