The Resurgence of Football: A Journey of Passion and Inspiration

Maybe when we go back into our childhood we remember how the cricket stars were hailed as the demigods of sports. We were always told that if we had a glass of milk we would be able to be as strong as then. In the school bus we got competitive with those playing cards and sided bowlers with the most number of wickets. Could you remember the days, you would wait in line to get a miniature cricket bat with a printed autograph. But in time, the sport got bowled over. Not so suddenly, the fandom for cricket took a toss. 

Now we see cut-outs of football stars towering over and roundabouts and highways. So many children geared in cleats and jerseys practicing football till the night comes to an end. It’s undeniable, there’s an impalpable love for football in the air. Kerala does have a history of winning a few national football championships, but it also takes this frenzy to an extra level. Different parts of Kerala had huge cut outs of Lionel Messi. Meanwhile, the Malappuram’s fan circle’s devotion is quite praiseworthy, even Messi had shared a video on facebook about the Malappuram fans. 

The football fever is so infectious that homes have football graffiti work, barbershops have endless requests for footballers’ haircuts, and many side shops have a facade of hot-selling jersey shirts. During the football season, you would see the roads blanketed with enthusiastic fans cloaked in jerseys of sunshine yellow and the classic Argentinian stripes. Many restaurants and cafes crescendo with wild cheers as people gather to watch football games. As the game slowly cruises to becoming a part of lifestyle, the best part is seeing how the game is part of everyday life. Especially during the monsoon season, how kids get dirty in the mud tossing the ball and doing cartwheels of victory after successfully scoring a  goal. Now’s that feeling of joy you can’t dribble with. 

I tried to think about why football is such an emotional investment. Could it be that now the whole world has become close knit because of this game. I rather moved into another line of thought when I saw Pele’s obituary hoardings all set across the city, some months ago. It then struck me, everyone loves a heroic story. Many footballer’s excellence and perseverance reflect in their game. From the successful rise of Pele, to Ronaldo and Messi, they never started off their journey as demigods. As humane as we all are, they rose to the horizon beyond our fascination. The game is a mix of talent and team spirit that reaches out to everyone.  With that they planted something in the many football fans out there, an  insatiable power to dream. 

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