Super League lends space for ladies, kids

KOLKATA: “If an elderly person comes, please help her to a seat.” The admonishing of a young girl by her senior volunteer at the VIP enclosure of the Salt Lake Stadium on Friday was, perhaps, a statement on where football is headed in the country with the advent of the Indian Super League.
A sport that had been hijacked into a ‘boys only’ box by misplaced chauvinism and repeated hooliganism, is being quietly reclaimed as a spectator sport in this country.
The ISL is, of course, not devoid of the boisterousness, but there is now room for the ladies, kids and the elderly to savour the stadium ambience during matches.
“I love football; I was playing with my brother yesterday, and now I am watching my first match” gushed Adrija Mukherjee, soaking it all from the block next to the VIP enclosure. “It’s been a terrific evening. I want to come back for the next match,” added the nine-year old who had come to the match with her brother, father and grandfather.
It was a first live match for Anjali Biswas of Burdwan too. "I would have come to other matches, like East Bengal vs Mohun Bagan, but never had the guts to do so. But this is different. I am loving every second of this experience." said the 35-year old housewife who was accompanied by her son.
Sirsa Dhar of Howrah is a veteran of the Salt Lake Stadium by comparison. “I have watched several East Bengal matches, including ones against Mohun Bagan and Mohammedan Sporting. I am now an ardent Atletico de Kolkata fan. Though we are trailing, I am sure we will win today,” she said at half-time.
Her wish and those of the other 50,000 at the Salt Lake Stadium were not fulfilled as Pune City slammed in two more goals in the second half. But, then, the ATK fans had their moments. A foul by Pune goalkeeper Arindam Bhattacharya, a Kolkata lad, lead to a penalty, and Fikru got off the turf to score from the spot and follow it up with his signature celebration of back somersaults.
Earlier, five minutes into the match, Sourav Ganguly's arrival in the company of his wife Dona and other family members presented an occasion for loud cheering from the stands.
“If only we had converted domination into goals,” lamented Sudhir Adhikari of Kasba, the middle-aged man referring to ATK's early domination.
In the end, no one was abusing or throwing missiles at the visitors. Many, in fact, were applauding them for a
good show. Most will be hoping some of that spirit rubs off on the rest of Indian football.