Football fever sweeps Mangalore

Mangalore: With the biggest sporting carnival of the planet starting in Brazil on Thursday and football fever sweeping the world, people in Mangalore also have started singingwe are one ole ola'.

Thanks to the 2014 FIFA world cup, the game is rapidly increasing its fan base in this South Indian port city. People are eagerly waiting to see their favorite teams clash and like the rest of the world are enthusiastic to judge if Messi and Ronaldo will live up to the hype, or will the young Neymar outshine them in front of a passionate home crowd .

The rains may hinder any plans of outdoor screening of the matches, but Mangaloreans are nevertheless excited to watch them indoors with friends and family. For Wendell, an engineering student the world cup is like a family get together. “Game day is going to be fun, we just bought a new HD TV and the full family will be watching,” he says.

Mustafa, who regularly plays football with his friends after school hours, is getting impatient to watch the world cup with them. “We have already taken permission from our parents to stay up late in my house. We are going to watch the games together hoping for exiting contests,” he says.

The elders also share an equal enthusiasm. “The matches are at night and hence I will be watching it with my sons. During Ramadan, we can watch the matches before thahajjud(night prayer) and sehri(pre dawn meal),” Saleem, a businessman reveals his plans.

DK District Football Association president D M Aslam said that since the matches will be aired late at night not much preparation can be done with regards to public screening. He also reasoned that up to seventy percent of football players and enthusiasts in the area are Muslims and any preparations made would go to waste as these people will find it inconvenient to attend special prayers in Ramadan which just about 15 days away.

Mr Aslam was however positive that the world cup will receive good viewership in Mangalore. “All school and college students are looking forward to it. We are planning on arranging a public screening of the final match but nothing has been finalized yet,” he said.

The eagerness of football fans is being seen by sports shop owners. “There is an increase in sales of football shoes and jerseys. People are particularly interested in the Brazil and Argentina jerseys,” said the owner of a shop in city. “Everyone is asking for footballs. we have run out of stock, more will be arriving shortly” he added.