While the victory against North East United on Friday
evening may have had FC Goa fans heaving a sigh of relief, there can be no
doubt that FC Goa has endured a torrid season. There have been many who have
come forth to take to social media to spew venom about the boys in blue. Others
have done the same to reassure the team that they are behind them. But then,
one must ask. Does this fate not befall other teams? Do the big boys of Europe
not get similar wounding from their followers?
Manchester United, following the retirement of Sir Alex
Ferguson has failed to live up to the expectations of its massive fan
following; Liverpool, one of England’s historic powerhouses of football, has
come closest to clinching an elusive Premier League title a couple of years
ago, before watching it slip away at the eleventh hour; Arsenal have similarly
mounted title challenges but fallen short several times over; and Tottenham
Hotspur, remain, well Tottenham, the proverbial bridesmaid that never turns
bride. However, fans turn up in droves, stay to the final whistle and never
give up on their team. So why then, has this year seen so much animosity from
the crowds because of the local team’s failure to perform?
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A few fans voice their opinions:
I think that a large chunk of things comes down to us having
very high expectations. As is the case with most things, there is bound to be
an ebb and a flow; good seasons and bad. The fans need to be able to get behind
their team, for better or worse. I think that if they want to see better
results, more time and planning has to be invested in the team. One month of
preparation can hardly be considered enough for a team to prepare a title
challenge.
– Errol de Pereira Andrade
It’s not that fans overseas don’t get outraged by a team’s
poor performance; quite the contrary, really. There are varied fan reactions to
a team not performing well. However, I think that what is different here is the
bond that fans share with their team. Generations of fans have supported ‘their
club’ in say, England. It is a fandom that is long-term. And it is far easier
to give up on a team that you’ve been supporting for two years, than one that
you’ve followed since the age of five.
– Krushnan Naik
