FIFA flu

11 more days to go. And there is just one word that rings in my ear football more football and even more football. Along with the endless number of fevers that monsoon brings along with it in my little Kerala, a new addition. FIFA flu. Once in a four year epidemic.
I can’t understand this hue and cry. Well a more honest statement would be I can’t understand football and hence I don’t understand this passion involved. Ok I can understand if my country is playing, but not this fuss over some Brazil playing against some Italy in some country called Germany.
Even Toyland has been invaded. My little cousin has lost interest in his Gijoes and Mattel cars. All of them suddenly giving way to Zidanes and Rooneys.
My granny’s village, where cable TV is nothing short of a luxury, hasn’t been spared either. I bet hard core jingoists would be shocked. Flags of Brazil and Italy flying high. Wonder how many times you actually get to see an Indian flag flying high. The not to be missed piece of work was a life size cutout of Ronaldo with a bottom tagline that read “BEST WISH TO BRASIL FROM BRASIL FANSE ASOCIATION”. That’s when I learned my life’s lesson that football is one game where the heart overrules the head. Guess that explains the football rogues. Spellings don’t count, all that counts is the passion involved.
Entire blogs are being dedicated towards football and FIFA world cup. People including me are writing about it. Media for a change is forgetting India’s biggest religion, cricket, and its god, Sachin. Football jerseys are the latest in things in the world of fashion. Guess football is actually a phenomenon
I was halfway through this blog entry, when my calling bell rang. A group of young guys, led by my neighbor, all clad in jerseys of their favorite football playing country. All they wanted was a meager donation for their FIFA ( fathima nagar* inter-club football association) cup. For the less knowledgeable mortal souls Fathima nagar is my neighboring colony. Eyes popped out I looked at these guys again. I was told that this cup actually is conducted on the same lines as that of FIFA. Well I wasn’t going to contribute my hard earned pocket money for something as silly as this. But a bit more of coaxing, some threats, and lots of blackmailing from my neighbor and I ended up paying 100 bucks. Hey after all I was a rather nice little girl .
Gosh!! My neighborhood has fallen prey too. And now…..Sniff sniff. Hachoo!!! And now that the air is laden with FIFA flu, surprisingly, I seem to be catching it too. Hachoo!!!