It’s a known fact that football runs in the blood of every Goan. We take pride in being linked with this beautiful game worldwide. Whenever Goa is discussed world over, football has to be a part of the discussion. Goa cannot be complete without football in its description. And we have been living up to this description very well may it be producing talented and skillful footballers or by being hosts to events of this beautiful game.
We Goans have mastered the art of playing this game and promoting and organizing this game in true spirit of this game. And this is the good reason why Goa has been understood as synonymous to football. But, like every good and sweet fruit has to be taken care of from the worms so also this lovely game has to be protected from the worm like elements in this football crazy state.
One of the major problems that create decaying effect on football in Goa is the presence of ‘illiterate betting enthusiasts’. I am using this word ‘illiterate’ with a reason and not to offend any one’s educational background. My remarks are in terms of knowledge of football rules and regulations and understanding about the football game. I have witnessed any number of incidents on the field and more so off the field that has brought disgrace to this beautiful game which we have been portraying as a significant part of our Goan culture. And many of you will also agree with me as you too must have witnessed such ugly incidents in your life that made us feel so cheap as the supporters and admirers of this wonderful game.
It’s a known fact that many of us are into betting habit during the football matches. And whenever the team we are betting on is losing, we get frustrated. And we try to control the match from outside the field through our abusive language and instigative comments. Especially the inter-village and inter-ward matches. Whenever the team on which our money lies is losing, we start abusing the opponent team and the match officials. We shout and abuse the match officials so badly that we fail to understand that we are the same Goans and football lovers who take pride in being attached to this game in a great way. We abuse them with bad words on their innocent mothers and wives and daughters. I very well understand that it hurts when one’s team is losing. Because we are really passionate about the teams we follow and support. But to abuse the officials on their mothers and wives is really shameful to this beautiful game and for us who take pride in this game.
The match is played on the field and the teams who are playing are well aware of the facts that take place on the field. But when the people who do not really understand the rules and regulations of football start retaliating, the players on the field too, get instigated. The players then start following the shouting referees from outside the field rather than the ones on the field. The frustrated gamblers will yell from outside to break the opponent’s legs, and the players will humbly oblige to their demands. Sometimes we become so ignorant as players and as supporters, that we forget that we are the same Goans who claim of football being running into our blood.
With so much HATRED and ANGER being displayed through this game, I wonder what kind of blood it might be that holds this beautiful game? Recently I heard the F.C Goa fans booing the opponent players at P.J.N stadium Fatorda. Which again portrays we as Goans as football lovers without the spirit of the game. True lovers of football know how to accept wins and more so the defeats. When we say that football is in our blood, let the world know that it’s the good blood and not the poisonous one. Let’s play football, let’s promote love, friendship and peace.
