One of the greatest test matches in the history of the
sport, the second ashes test at Headingly was played and on by England, India
made further strides in west indies by winning the first test. But meet the
Goan sports (football fan) and he will still be taking about Manchester
United’s stunning loss to Crystal palace and all other stories of the English
Premier League
It has been quite a week for fans of cricket. Three
matches in three different time zones that gripped one’s imagination. The
second test match in the Ashes series was as good as over as far as the English
were concerned but Ben Stokes decided to do something about it. When he flayed Cummins for four runs he had completed the
Miracle of Headingley Part II!. In Sri Lanka, the canny Kiwis found a way
around the Lankans to win in dramatic style on the final day of the test match.
And yes the Indians, now much better travellers than the team of yore smashed
the West Indians by over 300 runs to win the first test match. All these games
presented cricket at its very best.
The examination of the human spirit that is so
intrinsic to the sport was evident in all the games. Failure at first ie the
English in their first innings was followed by a brilliant batting spirit full
of spirit and passion. Now to the very important question, did this excite the
football Goan, did it make him want to look at cricket with much more interest.
This is after all the state that loves its football
and footballers. Like everything in this country however the realities on the
ground are not so clear cut as is always made out.
Football is numerouno undoubtedly without a doubt.
This can be witnessed in the number of football camps that spring up during the
summer and half yearly school holidays. It is not unusual to find camps with
over hundred kids divided into age groups and being coached in the basics of
the game. Grounds all over the state play host to camps organised by former
professionals both local and occasionally foreign. Local clubs watch these
camps with interest as players who could be part of their team in the future
will come from these camps. But as Vikram Verlekar pointed cricket had its
passionate fans too. He counted himself in that group. He said “I watch cricket
every time and yes I am Goan, I cannot avoid football and I watch it too but
cricket is a game I love passionately. The magic of cricket is something else
altogether. The three test matches that were contested recently were brilliant
advertising for the game. I watched the second test match in the Ashes
series and it was so exciting and Stokes
was just phenomenal. We won our test match against the West Indies which is
just so great. In Goa, there are people who love their cricket and it is a
group that is slowly expanding. Many of the guys love their football too but
cricket is a game they follow too”.
For others returning to Goa means a return to one’s
roots. Timothy Lobo spent more than 20 years in the GCC and returned home this
year. Whilst in Dubai he watched several sports like cricket, football and
others. However, on his return to Goa, it has been all football for him. He
said “In Dubai, I used to watch a lot of cricket in sports bars and football in
various leagues but in Goa , it is all about the EPL. I don’t watch cricket now
as much. Yes, I am aware of the three exciting games that were contested but
Goa is still only about football. It is in our blood.”
There is a flip side too. There are several executives
from neighbouring states who are based in Goa and bring their love for cricket
here. Satish Kumar a service engineer watches cricket with a passion with his
friends. Satish say’s “ I have Goan friends who like their cricket and come an
watch with us. We don’t go to any sports bar but we sit at home and watch it.
Its fun, there is a lot of discussion that takes place about the game, about
various players techniques and time passes by in an enjoyable manner”. Mohammed
Ali a sports agent who focusses on football was however quite passionate when
he said the game that really mattered in the state was still only football.
Other games paled into insignificance in front of football he said atleast in
Goa. He said “You don’t really see many people playing cricket on grounds in
Goa and the few that do have no one to guide them. There is no system to take
them forward. Football has a well-developed system in the state to track
talent. ”
At the sports bar 3Crownz sports bar n Karaoke, Jerome
Coutinho said there were crowds to watch the exciting test matches but it was
still driven by football and this would hold good from October when the English
would come in large numbers and watch their teams play in the EPL.
The interest in cricket is certainly present in
certain sections and is slowly growing but it is still a largely football
loving state and it could be safely said that it will remain so for some time
to come.
Therefore, India’s cricket captain and superstar King
Virat Kohli, who we hear is contemplating to
move to Goa with his wife, Anushka, may rule the rest of the country,
but in the land he chooses to live, the “King” is still football.
