I remember the first I-league football match that I saw in the city. I was with a friend watching HAL, Bangalore playing Shillong Lajong. The funny thing was, apart from the two of us, there were maybe four middle-aged men supporting Bangalore, the rest of the stands were occupied by Shillong supporters.
I remember feeling as if it was Shillong playing at their home ground. Now, Bangalore has a new football club, Bengaluru FC and since their first match in September, the attendance has never fallen under 6,500. The stands are full on match days and it’s a lovely sight, fans singing and cheering their hearts out. Earlier people had to be content with supporting foreign clubs, but now we have our very own home team. What’s more, we’re currently on top of the I-league table.
I don’t remember why exactly I picked up football but the game grew on me immediately and I’ve been holding onto it for the past 7 years. The defence colony where I once lived had plenty of open spaces for practice but once I moved out, it’s dawned on me that despite there being plenty of playgrounds for children and parks, it’s difficult to find an open ground for recreational sports. However, the quality of sporting facilities has improved to a large extent over the years.
Decathlon Sports has been a boon with a myriad of sporting goods. Furthermore, a few equipment are available for rent as well. It’s unfortunate that the degree of progress in sports for those who aren’t from the middle class or upper middle class background is not that evident.
The changes in Bangalore’s appearance wasn’t exactly sudden. It has been a gradual process and not all areas have been affected by it. Malleswaram for all its changes still retains a lot of its original appeal. Traffic problems are not exactly a concern for South Bangalore either.
A disappointing factor though is the Metro construction. It would have been a big relief if it had made at least some visible headway but as of now, it only contributes to excessive traffic around its construction sites.
The condition of auto rickshaw meters, or should I say drivers claiming that their meters are out of order has increased over the years. Day by day, the concept of these meters are running out and is starting to resemble Chennai. Roads are still pathetic and because of this and the number of commuters, traffic jams are commonplace. However, those who know the city well have many shortcuts to cut down on time.
Forum and Garuda are no longer the only malls. With so many malls around, they’ve lost their appeal. People are looking for alternate options to hang out in the City. Another new foreign franchise opened in Koramangala, Starbucks. It was so crowded during the opening weekend that people were standing in queues outside to get a sip. Although nobody really wanted coffee, they wanted to be the first to get their hands on the Brand’s offering.
(A resident of Ejipura, Koramangala)
Likes
Weather
Fewer power cuts
Football fans
Encourage start-ups
Davangere benne dosa
Dislikes
Faulty auto meter
Roads
Traffic jams
Distant airport
Fewer grounds