India is hosting its first ever FIFA World Cup
Guinea’s Pogba connect
It’s been 8 years to the exact date since a talented kid born to Guinean parents in France first played for Manchester United’s junior team. The Guinea U 17 colts in Goa, ahead of their opener against Iran on Saturday, are not falling over themselves to claim Paul Pogba as one of their own – but he sure signifies what is possible for these teenagers. The talent pool for Guinea comes from the streets, coach Suleiman Camara said, and there’s other players beyond Pogba who provide inspiration for this team but he happily declares that soon there will be many more Guineans playing for top clubs. There were two other declarations made with utmost conviction – 1. That Guinea is determined to beat Iran in the opener and relax after pocketing the 3 points. (Iran also declared their intent of making it to the semis at least.) 2. They have 45 fans travelling especially for this, so even if academies are still only coming up, the support is firmly behind the Africans who’ve qualified 5 times for the U 17 WC. Guinea’s coaches meanwhile love a laugh and a jig, and can better Pogba’s dance moves that are struggling to be an internet sensation, even while he recovers.
Pa’s legacy
Julen Cordero is Costa Rica’s No 9 – a powerful forward who can muscle through bigger defenders and possesses skills like ability to score with either foot. The Indian experience is supposed to help the lad take the next step. Though making the national World Cup squad is in itself a massive source of joy for the Corderos. Father Victor Cordero played 20 straight seasons for First Division club Saprissa — the same team Julen plays for – and picked 11 titles to become Costa Rica’s most title-winning player. However despite making 51 appearances for the national side – even in WC qualifiers – he never quite played the World Cup they went to (2002 and 2006 )in his playing time. The son, however, is a highly-rated player of this U 17 WC team. Unlike his father who was a defender, Julen Cardero is a forward.
Grass not greener
The Iranians were gleeful about their familiarity with Goa – the coach quipping that what he’d like to repeat from their AFC U 16 campaign last year is to be around for the first and last day of the tournament. The Germans though, have run into unexpected trouble as the length of the grass blades is causing them a few problems. Grass can be greener or not – but here it’s too short and passing is proving to be a tad tricky. Coach Christian Wuck sat flanked by midfielder Eric Majetschak and shot-stopper Luca Plogmann. When asked if the team were under some pressure to live upto the reputation of boasting a seriously talented forwardline that scored 17 in junior Euros, Plogmann who remains furthest from all the action, fisted the poser back with straight faced efficiency: “Even one goal is enough to win, so we want to score whatever is needed.”
Majetschak however stressed as a team carrying the tag of an ‘offensive unit’, he wanted them to score a lot of goals. Here’s one midfielder who’s not sitting back.
The app game
Twitching on the usually cushiony sofa on their hotel, a couple of teens from Niger are trying to configure the mechanics of an application, probably a dating app, if their blushes are any signifier. Soon more of their friends join them and they are giggling like high-school kids. The moment they see an elderly Nigerian walking into the lift, opposite them, they hide their phone beneath the cushion. Many of them were bought smartphones, cheap, basic Chinese ones, by their parents just before their trip to India so that they keep in touch through Whatsapp. But teens being teens wouldn’t just stop with Whatsapp. In fact, they are making better use of it.
Passes ‘available’
The SAI centre in Guwahati is located just behind the chaotic Paltan Bazaar road. It’s a lovely tree-ringed ground with easy access but not everyone is happy today at the association. “This cricket has spoiled everything,” says an official, and the mystery is easily solved. Someone comes looking for pass and the SAI member says, ‘yes yes you would get it. Tickets are cheap too if you want more. We can give two now.” But the other person has one look at it, and goes, “But this is for football. I want for cricket match!” The SAI member’s voice stiffens up: “If you want cricket, go to Nehru stadium and find out.” More trouble awaits him though. A phone call comes with what seems good news: 100 passes would be provided for distribution in every football game. Puzzled, you enquire about his long face – “I had just asked for quarters and semis, now they have given for every match. You can’t believe the headache I am going to face deciding whom to give, whom not to give” Perhaps the best line on the cricket-football issue comes from a cab driver. “Football ticket is cheap but cricket is so costly. I wanted to go but it’s too expensive.” He then adds, “cricket bol raha hai humein, jao jao, Football bol raha hai, aao aao.”
Uninvited guest
Be it Formula One or cricket, the mongrels always make their presence felt. At Navi Mumbai, it always felt like it was only a matter of time before one of them sneaked in. Soon enough, a canine invader found its way onto the pitch. Twice relieving itself on the carefully groomed pitch, the speedy stray ran around the playing area, before the Turkish goalkeeper made the first attempt to stop it before volunteers rushed onto the scene.
More To Read: FIFA WORLD CUP UNDER 17: FIRST INDIAN CITY IS JUST MONTH FAR TO HOST THE EVENT, HOW IS THE EVENT PREPARATION
