Portugal has been a long-time favourite with the ‘old guard’ and win or lose, the team will not fall out of favour with its fans
The fans’ emotions translate into actions that include the building of larger than life tribute trophies
To say that football and Goa are sportingly synonymous is an
understatement. A drive through any of Goa’s picturesque villages will see at least one football ground dot the landscape in any little ‘waddo’. Football as a sport of the people of Goa is a
concept as deeply woven into the Goan ethos as that of rice and curry, the need to be home by 7 pm for the evening rosary and the morning puja. If nothing else highlights this notion, then the fact that the largest number of
representatives of the top 4 tiers of
football come from Goa, should.
Paying homage to the largest
footballing spectacle on the planet, the Saint Paul Boys of Pedda-Benaulim have erected a mock version of the
trophy in the village that stands 12-feet tall. Village elder, Alleluia Menezes says “For my generation, the World Cup was a peek into football in other parts of the world. There was no television or
internet and as such, we had no ties to the other leagues of the world. La Liga, Bundesliga, Barclays Premier League… these names were alien to us. For us, we would wait four years in
anticipation of this
moment. For me, win or lose, Portugal is all
that matters.”
Apart from the locals who support their teams, there will doubtlessly be fans from other parts of the world too. England and Russia will have
passionate fans in the state. The World Cup will see both tourists and
expats from those countries gather in pockets of the state to cheer for their respective
countries. However, this is one time when the locals, who may have forged friendships with them, will put these ties aside as they don their respective colours to cheer their team on. Margarida de Noronha Tavora e Costa, restaurateur and avid football fan, says, “I support Brazil and Portugal. No one can take away a Goan’s passion for the game and either country when it comes to football!”
This emotion is shared by most across Goa. For the average Goenkar who has spent many an evening playing football at the church square or in the paddy fields, the favourites are the usual suspects. Francisco
Martins, an artist and a mainstay of Goa’s public celebrations, says, “This World Cup, like any other, I am supporting the Brazil and Portugal squads. Brazil,
simply because I am all for Carnival, and I love their colours, culture and
vibrancy. Portugal, in the same vein, has always had a special bond with Goa and hence there is a feeling of familiarity about it. Furthermore, I have been to both the countries and as such, I can understand where they come from and accordingly support them.”
Just as the Goan-Portuguese
footballing bond has been established over time as an unstoppable cultural force, there are certain venues which serve as immovable objects to this force. One such venue is a place of
immeasurable value if for nothing else than its anecdotal records – Clube
Nacional. “At the club, the supporters are almost all fans of Portugal. I am a fan through and through. I love
watching Cristiano Ronaldo play, but my love for the team has withstood
generations. As children, we grew up with a bond that signified that it was ‘our team’,” says Tony Dias, the club’s President.
While Portugal may or may not continue to struggle on the pitch, one fact clearly
remains constant. Through the years, their fans (and their beliefs) remain
stalwart.
