When the whole world was watching the inaugural ceremony and opening match
of the FIFA World Cup 2018,the atmosphere within the stadium was as crazy as
can be and the experience of being there, indescribable. This is what Goa based
Vikram Pratap Singh had to say as he was one of the lucky people to watch the
game live. “Man, it was something else altogether. The vibe, the feeling, the
cheering, the chanting…” says an excited Vikram, over the phone, after watching
the game between Russia and Saudi Arabia.
For Vikram, the experience was such a fantastic moment that mere
words and adjectives could not quite sum up how it felt to be there among other
football fans from across the globe, watching the world’s biggest sporting
tournament live.
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“The stadium went mad after Russia won the game 5- 0,” he adds.
Watching the game with the home crowd added its own charm with a
bevy of stars performing at the opening ceremony and the likes of Saudi Arabia
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Russian
President Vladimir Putinat the same Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.
While Goans back home joked about how the Russian squad had a
player with the familiar ‘Fernandes’ surname (Mário Figueira Fernandes), Vikram
was enjoying the game with fellow Goans.
While the group of Goans got to pose for pictures in front of
the Original World Cup trophy – another major highlight for Vikram and his
friends – they also got a chance to meet celebrities including India’s star
cricket player Rohit Sharma.“You get to meet these stars who are just here like
us to watch the beautiful game,” adds Vikram, after having his celeb moment
posing for pictures with Rohit Sharma. He watched the game a few seats below
where Rohit was sitting.
He adds that this celebration was not limited to just the
stadium. The streets were full of activity, with people who share a common love
for football and the Moscow Square was also alive with a riot of colour. “It’s
only when you physically witness such things that you understand the meaning of
‘living and breathing football’. It’s one of those once-in-a-lifetime
experiences. The Red Square has turned into a global fan club for the last two
days. You have these hardcore fans from Mexico, Peru, Argentina and Brazil and
you get to watch how they animatedly celebrate and build up the intensity
before and after the game,” he adds, sharing the whole experience.
They also got to see people dressed up in various costumes and
team colours, sporting props and in fancy cars. It was like attending a
festival.
Vikram,
who arrived in Russia on June 13, 2018, will leave on June 17. A business
entrepreneur from Margao, Vikram travelled with his Shagun Shirodkar from
Anjuna, Renner Gracias from Margao and Saish Sawant from Mapusa. For this group
of friends, it is an experience that will stay with them forever.
