Fans rue lack of posters, jerseys in local market

JAIPUR: Naresh Sandhu, a 25-year-old real estate agent from Barmer, made up his mind to visit Russia at the earliest ignoring his important business meeting in Singapore having watched Cristiano Ronaldo scoring a hat-trick, including an 88th-minute equaliser against Spain on Friday.
"I watched the World Cup match with a group of friends and I couldn't breathe even the match was over.Ronaldo is relentless in his pursuit of greatness. I have already contacted an agent over Russia, requesting him to arrange a ticket even in premium so that I can watch my favourite star Ronaldo in action," he said.
"People have definitely been excited, but this is definitely the pinnacle of interest that I've seen," he said.
But what he doesn't like is the general interest among public compared to other states.
"Incidentally, I was in Kerala for an official assignment in the last World Cup and I have seen a cobbler landed with a huge number of deflated footballs, many of which look beyond salvage. The cobbler said he had to work round the clock to repair those footballs as the World Cup approaches. He charged Rs 130 to stitch up a damaged football, and the inside bladder," he said.
Rajasthan, he said, had never boast of a solid football base. "Yet, it always gears up for this football extravaganza in numerous ways. Some of the craziest followers of the sport, the frenzy and fandom are visible during the World Cup. But the number is not much if you compare with eastern India, north eastern India and South India."
What the fans regret are the lack of colourful posters, jerseys and some other stuff which are not available in local markets. Some, however, managed to get jerseys through online sale or through vendors from Kolkata.
Nitin Bhat, pushing 50, and an avid football lover from Bani Park visited Kolkata's Maidan Market a week before the Cup and bought around 200 jerseys of the international teams. "I have seen the market swarm with people eager to buy jerseys of their favourite teams. I have spoken to a few of the shop owners, who have agreed to put up stalls here during the next World Cup to create an atmosphere and enthusiasm," he added.
Anybody driving towards Birla Mandir near Rambagh Circle will notice a colourful banner with a four-letter word 'Goal' is a testimony of the World Cup fever, the city has been witnessing.
"But I beg to differ," said Sajjid Ahmed, who has been living in the city more than four decades. Ahmed, who happened to be in Goa in 2006 during the last World Cup, was surprised to see that be it roads, houses or even stray water-pipes on roadsides, all were painted in the colours of the flag of the team they are supporting.
"I think that should be the spirit of football lovers and we can also follow the festivities".