Team Herald
QATAR/GOA: 1,2,3,4, 5 and 6: Goa is a sea of Portugal fans, many of whom are in Qatar joining their Qatari Goan brethren. With 6 goals their “own” team scored against Switzerland to set up a date with Morocco in the quarter-finals, Goan fans have six reasons to dream of the ultimate- Portugal as the World Cup winners in the finals on December 18.
With each goal, they felt their hands getting firmer and firmer around the coveted trophy though much water still needs to flow under the Mandovi and Zuari Bridges for this team to go where no other team from the nation has- a summit clash to emerge as world champions. It’s a beautiful dream alright.
Goa is partaking in the football festival and within it the carnival of Portugal where the team is making rapid progress to the top, homes are decorated with Portuguese flags, there are festoons and balloons strung all over and cars have stickers of Portugal’s flags. You could be forgiven if you thought you were in Avenida da Liberdade in Lisbon and not on Dayanand Bandodkar Marg in Panjim.
Gasper Crasto of Goan origin who is in Qatar (working) & was present for Portugal- Switzerland pre-quarter-final said that it was his dream come true to watch Portugal and his favourite players play live in front of him. He further added that he missed Cristiano Ronaldo on the pitch for most of the match but was confident that Portugal would win the finals.
Anthony Fernandes may be physically in Goa, but his entire soul and spirit are in Qatar following Portugal. Ebe as his wife goes ‘I am Portugal, I am Portugal’. Fernandes is emphatic and it will be Portugal & Ronaldo who will win and lift the World Cup trophy without any doubt.
For Goans here, Portugal and Ronaldo are synonymous and Portugal to them is Ronaldo. “It’s Portugal and it’s Ronaldo. Cristiano needs to be playing as this will be his last World Cup.
Another Goan who travelled to watch the Tuesday night pre-quarterfinal between Portugal and Switzerland, from Goa, said that he went to see Ronaldo but was heartbroken to watch the match with his favourite not playing but was happy at the end to celebrate his team’s victory. Like most of the fans of Portugal, he too showed his confidence that the winning team of this World Cup will be Portugal.
Mumbai City FC’s Goan player Mandar Rao Desai spoke about how interesting the match was and “how Santos (Portuguese coach) made sure that his plan was executed properly. Cristiano was missed but the coach had a plan which was clear by the end of the final whistle.
Suraj Pednekar from Pernem said that it is Portugal who can and will win the finals. He predicted that the final will be between Messi and Ronaldo.
Come Saturday, Goans all over the world, especially in Goa and Qatar will unite for a celebration which will be of love for football, culture, memories of growing up and shared history in a delicious mix, potent enough to make Portugal lift the cup.
Apart from Goans, Portugal has waves of support from Kerala and Kolkata fans both in their States and in large numbers in Qatar.
