The following is my write-up appeared in the local Arab Times today. It may
interest some of goanet readers. Hence, I reproduce it here.
AVF,
Kuwait.
"WORLD CUP 2006
At last the current World Cup tournament has started with the host country
Germany creating an unexpected upset in the inaugural match over their
opponents by scoring 4 goals but surprisingly conceding 2. This was due to
the weakness in the defense line of Germany for which they will suffer more
mortification and also because of the weak goalkeeping under their bar. If
Oliver Khan was guarding the German posts I am sure both the goals he would
have saved, his vast experience and safe pair of gloves associated with
strong sense of anticipation Germany will surely miss this time due to wrong
decision of Klinsman. Yet I admire Oliver Kahan's sportsmanship to join the
squad as number two keeper without showing any dissent. Zico's Japan failed
to rise to the occasion due to lack of high match temparement, Zico has
failed to teach his boys the geometrical approach as he used to do during
his playing days in tune with Brazilian tradition. Though it is premature
to judge the strength and weakness of the teams seen so far in the first
round yet Brazil will have to improve upon their current form where they
were very lucky not to concede an equalizer from Croatia. Ronaldinho is
playing with over confidence as if he is omnipotent, a tinge of pride is
seen in his approach and because of this he is bound to spoil his normal
great game.
Soccer is the game of masses and being so there is not a single country in
this world that does not play this beautiful game. But are all the peoples
all around the globe and especially the masses getting opportunities to see
this World Cup live? I doubt very much because due to over
commercialisation and too much greed of money making by FIFA, the rights of
TV coverage is become very expensive. Even a country like Kuwait which is
supposed to be one of the richest countries in the world is finding it
difficult to purchase the rights for TV coverage. In view of this many of
the "muskins" like me are finding it difficult to watch this beautiful game
live from my home TV. Like me, many of the soccer fanatics coming from the
class of masses are also finding it difficult to watch all the matches of
this World Cup live thanks to FIFA's greed for making more money.
Soccer is the only sport that very loudly, very boldly and very
spontaneously bring the entire world together. Soccer has such a magnetic
power that it discards racism, casteism, regionalism, religious fanaticsm
and all the man-made barriers. It is like a religion that preaches
universal brotherhood. Where Esperanto failed soccer succeeded thru the
medium of this game. It is like universal language understood by the entire
world. For this reason the membership of FIFA overpowers the membership of
UN. It is the greatness of soccer that destroyed the arrogance of apartheid
in the West. When the Black Pearl Pele, a black negro, scored goals his
white colleagues embraced him, hugged him and kissed him as if he is one of
them. So much so even his first wife Rose Marie who as white skinned forgot
to see the colour of Pele's skin and embraced his as her husband. Likewise
there are innumerable examples to cite how soccer unites peoples by
rejecting fake disparities created by man for his own personal gains.
In every World Cup we see some old records are shattered and new records are
created. But the only and the oldest record so far remained unbroken is
that of Just Fontaine's 13 goals record he created in 1958 World Cup in
Sweden. When he created this record the number of participating teams was
only 16 but now we have 32 teams increased from 16 to 24 and finally to 32
and yet no star scorer can either break the record of Fontaine or emulate
his feat. Gerd Mueller The Bomber of Germany came very near with 10 goals
in 1970 but failed to succeed. Earlier the great Black Panther Eusebio of
Portugal in 1966 tried in vain inspite of his pre-planned decision to score
highest number of goals. To achieve the goal of his plan, as he wrote in
his masterpiece in 1966 "My name is Eusebio" originally written in
Portuguese, said Eusebio " I wanted to be the highest scorer and yet it was
not easy. Hence, I decided with my colleagues in the Portuguese team Jose
Agusto and Torres to feed me as many passes as possible and if I get the
highest scorer award, I will share a percentage of it with you". Eusebio
though succeeded in scoring highest number of goals in 1966 World Cup held
in England but he failed in breaking or equaling the great feat achieved by
Just Fontaine who is at 72 now enjoying strong memories of his record and
yet boldly says "Nobody will break my record".
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Safat, Kuwait."
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