Strange, but in a State like Goa, where football has fans across all ages and in all villages, the FIFA Under-17 World Cup that is being held in India and with Goa being a host State, has drawn little attention. Ask youth about the Championship, and there are furrowed brows that meet the question, as if to say that what is it that is being spoken of? It would be sad if in Goa, students learn that the World Cup is happening only because school exam schedules have been changed so as to not clash with the matches Goa is hosting.
In less than a month’s time the FIFA Under-17 World Cup will kick off, with Goa slated to host its first match on October 7, when Germany will take on Costa Rica. The question is whether the State is ready to host the World Cup matches. And it’s not the stadium that is being talked about. The turf and the stands will be ready for D-day, but in a football crazy State like Goa, there hardly appears to be any major buildup to the World Cup, and it is now less than four weeks away.
In Goa, where car drivers slow down and sometimes even stop to watch a match in progress, where the Indian Soccer League and the FC Goa team have drawn lakhs of fans, where people stay up till late into the night to watch the English Premier League and night spots have special screening of the games, the lukewarm response to the World Cup is surprising and cannot be allowed.
Goa needs to pull up its socks and get the momentum going. It is hosting an entire group and powerhouses Germany and Brazil will be seen in action in the group stages. Germany will play two matches in Goa in the group stage, and Brazil will play its last group match, and then Goa will also host two matches of the round of 16 and one quarter-final. It is unfortunate that India is not playing any group match in Goa. But there is always the possibility of a Round of 16 or a quarter-final in the State where India is one of the teams.
While the possibilities of a huge viewership are high, there’s almost a defeatist attitude among the organisers even before the World Cup can begin with the PR manager saying that if ticket sales are poor, than school children will be encouraged to go to watch the matches. While it is good to promote the game among school children, why should the organisers even begin to think that the ticket sales won’t happen? Admittedly the sales are low, but these are online sales and the over the counter sale of tickets began last week but have still not picked up. The expectations are that the sales will pick up as the match dates approach.
The World Cup trophy will be in Goa later this week and will travel around the State over the weekend. Here’s an opportunity to get the ball rolling in the State for the World Cup. If the organisers can’t do it, Goa’s football aficionados should not let down the beautiful game. They have to show the world that the football fans of Goa can crowd the stadiums and make as much noise as the Europeans and South Americans at matches.
But more than a championship to watch, the World Cup in Goa needs to be a game changer for football in the State, drawing more youth to the sport and the football field. It has to take Goan football several notches higher, only then will it have been a success in the State.
