FATORDA: It was a dream come true for many fans – a FIFA World Cup match in Goa. They arrived early and patiently waited for hours at the stadium to beat the traffic and gate rush at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium Fatorda.
And once inside they had the privilege of watching their first FIFA U-17 World Cup match and witness some of the world biggest giants play ‘The Beautiful Game’ on Saturday.
Watching German youngsters, Jann-Fiete Arp, Jose Alfaro, Alexander Nitzl, Lars Mai was surely a treat for Goans who could only remember and identify them with their jersey numbers.
Christian Wuck’s colts (Germany) and Costa Rica lads cast a spell over the 12,000 odd spectators in the first match with manoeuvres and attacking display that left them in smiles and content at the end of the final whistle.
Germany started the match slowly but didn’t take long to score the first goal as their talisman and star striker Jann-Fiete Arp, showed Goans why he is rated as a future prospect for Germany as he sent the stadium in ruptures in the 21st minute. It wasn’t a surprise to see the spectators join the European side in celebrating their first goal!
The German side won the hearts with good football in the second half with midfielders John Yeboah and Sahverdi Cetin impressing the locals. But the crowd enjoyed Costa Rica’s play too. It was less confused scene and more of amusement at the venue at the hour mark when Andres Gomes equalised for Costa Rica.
The spectators’ vociferous chants and celebrations proved that the fans gathered had come for the love of the game and not backing a particular team. The same occurred when Noah Awuku scored the last-gasp winner for the Germans.
“We are Germany fans and we had come to watch the junior team play. We were content to see them play. The level is far higher than our national football. It was joy to witness the young future players play in person,” said Joyce Afonso, who had travelled from Panjim to see her favourite team play.
“I’m die hard soccer fan and I watch the European leagues and that’s the reason I came along with my kids to show them the sports in reality rather than on television. We are supporting Germany and we were lucky to watch them win in Goa. I liked no 7 of Germany (Sahverdi Cetin) as he dominated the midfield and had better vision of the game,” said a fan Oster Carvalho from Porvorim.
“Both Germany and Costa Rica are good teams. And I had read about Fiete-Arp on the paper and it was good to see him score the first goal. I’m not a fan of either teams but had come here to watch good football and I was happy and content to witness it,” said another spectator Sudin Naik from Bicholim.
The second match too saw the same energy level at the stadium. The Guinea team received tremendous support from the visiting fans along with the Goans. But it wasn’t about the teams again as Iran, who are not new to the Goan soil, did receive appreciation for their impressive display.
Despite, the crowd leaving the stadium empty in the second half, the Goan fans did prove everyone wrong. Not known to the players and teams and their susegad nature, the local fans did turn out in decent number at the venue. Goa still lives and breathes football. Truly it was a beautiful game at the Fatorda Stadium.
