Bengaluru: The FIFA World Cup has caught the imagination of fans around the world and India is no exception. Even with the absence of India from the quadrennial 32 team event, Indian fans have pledged their allegiance to various countries, but the South Amercian teams of Brazil and Argentina are where the majority of Indian hearts lie. In Bengaluru, Gowthampura, that everyone knows by it's other name - Mini Brazil - football frenzy is at fever pitch.
Children at Mini Brazil are all smiles as they wait to see their team in action against Belgium in the quarter final.
In the local ground in Gowthampura, young children can be seen playing football sporting jerseys of Brazil and Argentina. It is no surprise as to which country they support. ‘Brazil’ is the unanimous answer and Neymar Jr is their favourite player. “My grandfather was a footballer and Pele was an amazing player in that generation” says Dinesh, a XXX year old who wants to be a professional footballer when he grows up. Football comes naturally to him and its more than just a sport, its clearly a passion, that is shared by the residents of this sprawling down at heel neighbourhood.
Little wonder, its Bengaluru's mini Brazil, “Almost everybody here supports Brazil and the football craze peaks during the World Cup and many buildings are freshly painted yellow” said Rakesh who plays at the local ground regularly with his friends. All of them are cheering for the Samba boys in this year’s World Cup and watch Brazil’s games sitting around at the ground. They are quick to acknowledge that their talent comes nowhere close to their South American heroes, that the beautiful game is still a work in progress for them.
But clearly, unlike other neighbourhood grounds where the heroics of Virat Kohli and his men are cheered and watched, here its football that runs in their blood, with most boys getting their first taste on the muddy, rocky ground as soon as they can walk. They know that like India, they are a long way away from even dreaming of an India team, let alone one that can qualify for the World Cup. But there's now an Indian Super League (ISL), and a tiny glimmer of hope for that football can be their passport to fame. Watch out! India's Neymar could rise from the slums of Ulsoor!
