PANAJI
With Goa among the six venues set to host an epoch-making first FIFA event in the country at the World Cup U-17 level, the interest of football fans have been piqued barely a couple of days into the big-ticket event. A hub of activity surrounding the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on the outskirts of Margao on a sultry Wednesday afternoon was indicative of the fact. The Box Office is slowly coming to grip to the reality of the event with ticket sales picking up in the course of the last few days.
This reporter observed fans trickling in braving the searing mid-day heat to buy tickets for the football extravaganza. A youth picked up as many as 13 tickets in anticipation of a mouth-watering encounter in the quarter-final.
Fr George Dias, who teaches at Rachol Seminary is a football buff who plays for Chinchinim Veterans, said it is a World Cup and hence "we cannot miss it". Having bought a first day ticket and also for the quarter-final, he appealed to the Goan football lovers to come in numbers to cheer for the foreign sides.
While stating that his favourite team is Germany and that is why he chose to buy a first-day ticket, he bought a quarters ticket as well for his sheer love of the game no matter who might play on the given day. "Through football I want to evangelize and propagate Christ," Fr Dias said.
A group of four lads, namely, Joshua Dias, Carlton Britto, Rohan Barros and Pranay Baheti studying in XI Commerce at Fr Agnel Ashram, Verna, are looking forward to have a first-hand taste of World Cup action of the stars of tomorrow at their doorstep. While they are missing out on the first day as their exams are to end only on that day (October 7), they are not disappointed as much as they still have another opportunity to see their favourite side few days hence.
"We have picked up South Stand tickets for the October 10 double header as also for October 13 mainly because a football powerhouse Brazil would be playing on the latter day. We want to see Germany play. It is our desire to live an experience of a FIFA U-17 World Cup," an enthusiastic Joshua stated.
Whereas Carlton, his friend added, "We want to check out India's performance in the World Cup. These are the rising stars who will reach somewhere in the future."
Box Office Timings: 10 am to 5 pm, PJN Stadium, Fatorda.
