Our 21-year old, old TV sits in my sister's room and Zonet's Demand Channel is the only music channel that it's archaic machinery can pick up. And K'naan's "Wavin' Flag" is requested at least once every half- hour, so the song is stuck in my head. And what it has done, is to spur me on into a quiet frenzy over the upcoming World Cup.
Nopes, I'm not going to talk about team strategy and statistics. Nor am I going to talk about how good a particular player looks. I have long outgrown the tendency to root for the country with the most hunky players. So, bye bye Italy, Nesta, Zindagi (Inzaghi), Cannavaro and their ilk. Nor am I going to cheer for France just because Thiery Henri is in the squad.
I'm rooting for Germany even though Ballack won't be playing (sob). And its not because their surgeons perform free plastic surgery here :D This reminds me of a conversation I once overheard in a bus some years back:
Woman 1: I'm supporting Germany because they perform free surgeries.
Woman 2: But their people killed so many Christians.
Woman 1: Oh, oh, then I'm going to support England. They have missionaries there...
Heh. Looks like a case of the sins of the Fuhrer being borne by the children.
I also supported Turkey in 2002. And a neighbour remarked in shocked tones- "But they are Muslims! Why are you supporting them?" Errr.. because they have good players? Does this make me hell-bound?
Okay, so there's some religious bigotry involved in the aforementioned cases. But then, football does have its fanatics. Ideally, the World Cup is supposed to unite people of all races/ sexual orientation/ religion under one big umbrella of football, but that's hardly the case. For some, it becomes an arena where old political scores are revived, religious differences are brought into prominence (Brazil won because they are Christians!) Its also an arena where fallible human gods are sacrificed- The murder of that Colombian who scored an own goal in 1994; the media lynching of Beckham when he was sent off...
Don't get me wrong. I love football (though I'm scared to watch it now because MY team Arsenal lets me down everytime I watch them). I heard somewhere that an impoverished Argentina sent a squad who paid their own way for the 2002 World Cup- all for the love of football and country, and I love this. I also love there is actually a thesis titled ""Un homme avant tout': Zinedine Zidane and the sociology of a head butt" (http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a908928615&db=all) regarding Zidane and the racial problems he faces.
It IS a testament to the magnitude of the game that so many issues worldwide are related to it, that so many wars are fought within its umbrella. And to think its just a game where some men chase a ball and try to kick it inside a net (blasphemy, sacrilege!!!).
Again, I've digressed... I tend to ramble on weekends because ...because anything goes on a weekend. I'm dreaming of the day when an Indian team (with ball-boots on) will play in the World Cup. And the backs of their jerseys will feature names like Pachuau, Hnamte, Longchar, Shabong, Yumnak, Khonglam, Singh Sachdev, Ramaswamy, Bhavisha... and an eager Hrahsel on the reserve bench :D (for you, Jay-me).
Anyway, I'm waving the flag for Germany, and Spain comes a close second. And as the game progresses I'll probably forge new loyalties, maybe root for a certain underdog. What flag will you be waving?
P.S: Saw this poem "Damn your flag" by Feddabonn. Felt slightly abashed. Then I realised that the issues are almost similar. Breathed easy :D
27 comments:
I'm going to be in Pune and I don't think I'll be able to watch the beautiful game there (pulls hair out and groans in agony - thank you very much MZ). I never support the popular teams. In this particular tourney I don't think I have a team at all.
You are right about the hoopla about religion and the team to support. My blood boils when i hear such talk. Makes me want to tie them up and shove a big FACTS 101 lesson to make them realize their convulsed views of history (or am I the convulsed one?)
Anyhow, ole ole for WC2010!!!
Ok, __K, Take a deep breath... releeeaaassse.. Feel better? :D I wouldn't want you to have convulsions..
Fact is, this is not going to get better anytime soon. And if we let ourselves become as fanatical in our opposition to the fanatics as the fanatics themselves (woo, long-winded), then it becomes one big violent circle, right?
And I sympathise with you about the MZ part. But don't say I didn't warn you that your personal will become non-existent, heheh. All the best, though. You know you wouldn't have wanted it any other way, tiro?
*insert 'life' between 'personal' and 'will' :D
wtf a girl putting out World Cup preview blog before I did. Shame on me.
Arsenal fan ve tho maw . Ka awih lo. If you were an Arse (tee hee hee) then you'd have known the correct spelling is Thierry Henry. Excusez Moi!
No the Argentina players DID NOT pay out of their own pocket to participate in the WC2002. The Argentina Football league is not THAT poor. Sheesh. please check your facts before publishing your blog. :D. Argentina fan ka nihna angin ka rawn sawi nih hi.
Fun fact: The indian team qualified for the 1950 World Cup. (it was Mahatma Gandhi's last wish that an Indian team played at the WC and FIFA agreed to do this after MG died).. but they didnt play because they didnt have football boots and wanted to play barefoot mahse FIFA didn't allow players to play without cleats. Sad.
Tunkum World Cup chu en lo leh phawt mai teh ang. Last world cup khan final chu ka en ve hram. En peih deuh atchilh bur chu awm se ka en ve peih mai a mahse en peih lemlo hlir bula awm chuan a lo enloh theih khawp mai. Mizoram ah chuan I know it's a completely different picture, but out here if you ask anyone what team they will support in the WC you'd get answers like Sri Lanka, Pakistan, West Indies etc.
K'u Mos: Henri has been variously referred to as Henry, THiery, Thierry etc.. but, he's the same phakar yet wonderful player. Ok, am tryin to justify a typo...va ho mai2 e aw.
The Argentina players did not.. HAH!! I should have known that a team that you support would not have been that altruistic. Damn, I'm disappointed. Veron kha ka lo star zuai hman phah asin le..I did say "I heard somewhere..." Probably from that neighbour of mine.. Let the mistake stand.. Am not going to correct it.
It only proves my theory that so many facts- real and unreal- surround the WC. Alelele.
Hmm..I knew that the Indian team wanted to play barefoot.Didn't know MG had hand in getting them there
This time the typos and grammatical mistakes are deliberate
@Aduhi: I so get what you mean. '98 leh 02 kha ka chhungte tuman min enpui ve peihlo a, mahniin kan TV chhe tawkah chuan ka en ve rek2 zel. Mahni a lo phur vak hi chu a nuam em2 chiahlo. LOL @ supporting Sri Lanka et al for the 'World Cup'. India revolves around cricket.
here comes another futbol fanatic...hehe lets outdo the guys... girl power yeahh!! didnt know u r dis oops..this interested in futbol..4 a gal like me who counts fingers just 2 watch premier league n champions league games every weekend, WC brings another fever id be willing to catch...im waving my flag for brazil..why?cos they r xtians!!hahahaha jokes aside, its bcos ever since i was a little gal, ive been watching WC wit my dad who's a faithful fan of brazil n u wud knw, 4 a gal like me who worships her dad, its only natural dat im rooting 4 brazil, always, unless dad changes his team. If they get knocked out earlier than expected, which i doubt, id just be watching WC2010 4 da "luv of da game"...NOTE: i watch n i play, seriously, not a pro bt thalai sports n ol types hehe.
"A Football fan can change his religion but not his team" Oih m?
Also, i ll be shouting "Glory Glory" for England not becos they have white skin or gave us the alphabet n the gospel, though those wud be gud enuf reasons(colonial hangover, eh??)but becos Henry love, love, love, love, love, love looooveee England n i think he has a gayish crush on Rooney hehe n he has Beckham as an ex-crush so...wats a gal got 2 do?lol England flag te k thui vl during our 1st WC 2gether...this is the 3rd time, we r sooo purana
HAHAHA, JAY-meee... See, I've included your descendant on the Indian team :D
I remember your England flag, hahaha, lung a van tileng, that was the Euro zawk anilo mi? 3 WC'S together would mean..umm.. 2002 ah inla 2gether lo..
Spain is my second pick because it's Xaua's team, hehehe.. I so get you for picking England as your second.
Lets see which couple wins, alrite?
Guess I'm not a true-blue footie fan because I change my team so often. BUT! I have never rooted for England precisely because I hate Rooney and Beckham, hehhe, though I really feel sorry for Beckham this year.
And James? Purana, in this case, is gooodd!!
heeey! didnt notice your list of the dream team, "eager hrahsel" hmmph, been there done that, heheh dont need one no more, will teach u how 2 play also
@cuckoo - Terry Onree is not a cheat. If there was only one guy in this world i'd turn gay for it'd be for Terry Henrietta.
I made up the bit about the Mahatma. Please check your facts before replying to comments. muwahhhahhaha.
Vamos Argentina.
@Jamie: Nah, am more into watching :)I'd rather shout at the players than be shouted at.
@U AMOS!!! :( I didn't check because I believed you were telling me the truth.And I thought people who said we should not invest too much trust in other people were just dumb cynics. Wow. Guess they were right. This kind of wake-up call I do not need :(
A 21 year old TV huh? I like that lol. We have a 15 year old set which we had to finally put out to pasture last Christmas because the picture tube went bust. About the WC, when it's the 18th on your lifetime list, it's hard to not go Doh, another one? :p
Oh and a word from the wise - always take U Mostafa's comments with a pinch of salt. Especially when he's in flirt mode.
lolz ladies. shhh... don't discuss football, I say. *puts on my alpha male cape and turns back time*
What you girls need to do, is read this :D
Chp 73. World Cup: Of women folks and football
Ah... feels good to go back a few centuries.
:)
henry just read ur post + comment n he is sooo gonna trash u hard on the butt like he used 2 he said, why degrade rooney n beckham, have a little respect 4 people's crushes(he said), shall we bet on which country wins? (again his words)he's willing to go upto 1000/wearing only a thong carrying a 50kgs. rice sack from ur veng ol da way to his shop lolzzz
@Miz Calliopia: My dad keeps insisting its actually 25 years old.. sheesh, men! I love the WC's of yesteryear when mom would wake us up to watch the finals and we would have zo-chhang and chau.. And I'm taking K'u Mosa's comments with a pinch of salt AND a tincture of vinegar.
@Illu: You're hopelessly outdated. Upgrade yo'self.
@Jamie: Lolzz...ok, ok, tell Hamrika I apologize,and I did say I feel sorry for Becky, but Rooney..sorry, I can't be that nice. And the bet is ON.
I'm cheering for the Azzuri. I've always cheered for the Azzuri. Spain, Yes. Portugal, Yes. The rest depends on who plays with whom. I tend to root for the underdog.
hell yea i wud have wanted it any other way trust me. but i guess as a newbie in the department i have to earn my dues the hard way unlike u and jamie who are the darlings of the teachers who got the midas touch
@Lucy: the Azzuri... brings back fond memories... Nuam e, everyone is rooting for different teams
@__K: HAH! We are the damned ones in the Univ, if anything goes wrong in our batch, we are always the first to get blamed :(((
I'll root for Netherlands yet again... Netherlands & Arsenal fans are 'always hoping in vain'... :-) But I will not change my side, no matter what..
Jargo, that's called loyalty :)
Whichever team wins, the WC will be special anyway tiro? Thnks for dropping in
thil pakhat chiah sawi belh ka duh -
World Cup hi indian time zone a an khelh hun tur i lo thlir lawk ang u -
5pm, 7.30 pm and 12 Midnight.
India ram tan chuan a nuam tawk vel chiah e. mahse Aizawl ah chuan current a thim angem.. lo angem.. angem tih kha in rilru ah awm reng awm sia. ka khawngaih che u!
ALNTC!
"Looks like a case of the sins of the Fuhrer being borne by the children"
I love the originality in this quote
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