Kolkata sizzles with Messi mania

At Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, the countdown has already begun for the FIFA authorised match between Argentina and Venezuela. Even before the two Latin American giants clashing on the green patch of the stadium in presence of one lakh fans, it can easily be termed as an ‘one sided match’. Just because the Venezuela Eleven has to clash against Lionel Messi, plus star-studded Argentina, and then an ocean of spectators.

Argentina squad includes Sergio Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain, Angel Di Maria and Javier Mascherano to name a few, but no doubt that Messi is the biggest of attraction.

The Messi-mania has gripped Kolkata with its football lovers down with Messi-fever. Even before he stepped at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, Messi's hopeful presence had already mesmerised the city. For the last two days, the leading dailies are publishing Messi-headlines along with bunch of features starting from his skill to what he is taking in his breakfast.

It is no ordinary event. That Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will be a spectator, along with host of his cabinet colleague, itself describes the significance of what is going around in the city. And if one fails to gauge the craze from Banerjee’s presence, gauge it from the state Governor, M K Narayanan's presence, who is basically a man of security services.

To adorn the gallery, Bollywood too has joined Tollywood. John Abraham, Abhisek Bacchan, Ranbir Kapoor, Rahul Bose, Bipasa Basu, Katrina Kaif, Sonali Bendre are likely to enthuse Messi’s Argentina. 

Certainly, it was expected. Lionel Messi has been named as the European Footballer of the year only two weeks back. And days before he voyaged for Kolkata, he scored twice against Real Madrid. Considering the importance, the FIFA has announced this match would have bearing in the teams FIFA ranking and not just as other Exhibition match.

Messi is the third Latin American football jewel after Edson Arantes Do Nasci Manto (Pele) and Diego Maradona. Pele visited the city as a member of Cosmos team. He played a match at Eden Garden where his team won by a solitary goal. Maradona visited in 2008 but not as a player. Apart from them, Oliver Kahn and Diego Forlan also toured the city. Kahn played a match, but not Forlan. However, Pele, Maradona, Kahn toured after their retirement while Forlan visited as a reveler. Roger Milla and Gerd Mueller also toured this Mecca of Indian Football.

After this match, life will not be same as today for the four poor teenagers of central Kolkata who will walk alongside Messi and his teammates while they enter the stadium. Like Rubina Ali of Slumdog Millionaire, Rohit Mallik, Rajesh Bhunia, Vishal Das, and Krishna Malik will have something to narrate to their friends.

Chosen out of 20 shanty-dwellers of a Harizan basti near Park circus by a NGO, 'Save The Children', they are spending the day at Salt Lake stadium and getting much attention, which they neither had before, nor may enjoy, in the rest of their lives. One of them, Malik, said, “I am at the peak of my dream. I never thought that I will be holding the hands of ‘my God’ I was chosen on the basis of our knowledge on sports. I feel I am a millionaire today.”

Meanwhile, the stadium has been upgraded to suit the FIFA standard with new Astroturf and total overhauling. Sports journalists from different nations, including Argentina and Venezuela, have reached the stadium. Thousands of spectators have reached the venue too earlier, although the kick-off is at 7 pm. A Royan is the Referee of the match where Biplab Poddar, Dinesh Nayar and Frankie Fernandez are his deputies.