For the Love of Football
Okay. So I am one of those people who does not like watching club matches, test matches, the qualifying matches and all those small matches that happen year in and year out. I don’t watch tennis because I don’t find it exciting enough.
But I am a big, big fan of World Cups; football, cricket both. And have been since about 1994 when I first saw Oliver BierHoff in the German team. Since that year, Germany has been the team for me!
What gets to me is that in those 16 years I’ve never witnessed what I’ve witnessed this time round, and maybe its all due to the advent of Facebook and people being so vocal about what they think.
You see when I watch a match; I watch it because I love football. I might not understand it the way hardcore fans and “club match-watchers” might, but I love it all the same and for me the World Cup years are the most exciting. I usually forget names of players from other countries over the four-year break – but come World Cup season, after a few days I know what I need to know about the Round of 16, the best players of the tournament and everything else I feel I should know.
I still remember the sheer elation I felt when Germany beat Argentina in 2006 in the quarter finals and how a friend of mine supporting Argentina was so depressed that I didn’t even shove it in his face. And I also remember when Germany lost the Semi’s to Italy, how that friend called me up and just laughed on the phone.
It was that very year F and I had gotten recently engaged and I remember we watched a couple of the matches together; especially ones where Germany played. We were both die-hard German supporters – and mind you, not the vocal “we will beat the shit out of you,” or “In your face” comments kind of fans. We both loved the German team for the way they played and treated the opposing team with respect. I loved how we could spend time discussing the way a game was played considering that my knowledge of football was mediocre compared to F’s, who’s been a football freak since birth. It was also that year that F and I decided that in 2010 we’d be in South Africa to watch the World Cup, for our third anniversary. It was the perfect plan.
Four years later, 2010 changed our plans dramatically. Needless to say we didn’t make it to South Africa – but for reasons that have their own thrill [reasons which deserve their own post.]
This year F and I are watching our first World Cup together. And it’s been amazing so far. F comes from a country where people are football fanatics. Their country has yet to make a mark in the sport, their spirits run very high. According to F many Iranian’s are big German supporters.
This was also F’s first exposure to what I will call the “Pakistani Mentality” towards football. Like I said earlier Facebook is THE place to see what kind of people live in Pakistan. From status updates to groups you can pretty much tell. Now I love my country and its people because I really think Pakistani’s have great potential no matter who they are. But what I just don’t get is this possessiveness over everything.
Ever since I was a kid I’ve found it difficult to talk about a sport with people, some family, some friends. Generally people have this attitude of “You don’t know anything. Mujh say Poocho!! I have been watching football since I was a kid.”
I find this attitude extremely egotistical and ANNOYING. Recently when I told someone I was supporting Germany I got a, “Name one German player in your team, do you even know who they are?”
Another time I got, “Argentina ka final haii. We know football’s psychology. You don’t even watch the clubs play.”
And yet the underdog teams I’ve been supporting so far have all made it through. Hmmm!!!! And Germany THRASHED Argentina. Hmmm!!!
I’m glad I don’t watch the clubs play. ☺
F’s take on this so-called self-ownership by other people of the game was blunt. He claims it’s just the ego. And from an outsider’s perspective, he claims that the only things he dislikes about Pakistan, as a country is the ego of its people. Considering he chose to live here, he says he LOVES everything despite all the issues we are plagued with. He just thinks it’s the EGO that prevents the positive.
F said that in Iran you’ll never even hear this kind of talk about how “buffoons who don’t watch football all the time suddenly become interested during the World Cup.” He said its just crass and ignorant talk that people who want to make themselves feel important indulge in. Over there it’s all about the spirit of the game and sportsmanship.
And this is it. Yesterday when Germany KILLED Argentina; I decided to update my status for the first time since football started. I usually stay away from publicizing my football preferences, but yesterday was just too tempting considering how much I love the German team.
It was so disappointing to see statuses writing off the World Cup; claiming the “right” kind of people were not interested in it; suggesting people who knew nothing about the game were watching it and calling it idiotic.
I don’t understand why people cannot simply enjoy a game and let others enjoy it too.
What difference does it make whether someone knows who Pele was and what significance Maradona has and what the bloody history was? Yes, it is exciting knowing all that, I agree, but what’s the harm in just watching a match and supporting a team once every four years? No harm.
This is why I again thank God, I ended up with a guy who is a hardcore football fan, but in front of whom I’ve never felt silly or belittled where football is concerned. He explains everything to me and if I give my theory I know he will never tell me he knows more than me.
My questions of “Don’t the players get thirsty,” “Don’t their shorts come off some times?” “Why do they spit so much?” “Do they smell bad?” “Do they change in half-time?” “Are they allowed to go pee during the game?” and many such more are all answered with a small smile, but a correct answer with an explanation. ☺
Sure I might know the players for their looks more than for their abilities. But usually by the middle of the World Cup I know my players, my team, my history and that makes me as much a football fan as any Man.United, Chelsea, Barcelona or Liverpool supporter.
Considering these big sports usually have an anti discrimination message, here’s something for the “REAL” football fans,the grumpies; DON’T DISCRIMINATE.
Anyone can be a football fan. Even if its just every 4 years.
It’s a great Sport. Share it!
Live and let Live -
For the Love of Football.
