KOCHI: Brazil is known for nationwide strikes. From those demanding the resignation of former president Dilma Rousseff and current head Michael Temer to the ones against hosting the 2014 FIFA World Cup, it has seen several strikes.
However, all that hadn't prepared them for what they were to witness in Kochi on Monday as Kerala came to a standstill from 6 am to 6 pm, thanks to a dawn-to-dusk hartal called by the UDF, opposition led by the Congress in the state protesting against rising fuel prices and anti-people policies by the state and Central governments.
"Yes, we do have a lot of strikes in Brazil, but not like this. Things are different there," said one of the members of the Brazilian coaching staff who are preparing their team for their Round of 16 match against Honduras here scheduled for Wednesday. Shops remained shut, private and public transport were taken off the roads and school and university examinations were postponed.
Taking into consideration reports of stone peltings on public buses in some parts of the state as well as the logistical difficulties, training of both Brazil and Honduras had to be moved to 7.30 pm on Monday due to security reasons. Brazil trained at the Government Sports Academy, Panampilly Nagar while Honduras did their session at the Maharaja's College Stadium till 9.30 pm.
"There shall be no team movement during the day in view of the hartal," said a statement from the Local Organising Committee. "Usually, we prefer to have our sessions from 6 pm, but we had to move it a little later in the evening because of this strike. Other than that, I do not think it affected us," said the Brazil official.
Earlier, the UDF was forced to postpone the hartal which was first called for October 13, the day when Kochi hosted two Group D matches -- Niger vs Brazil and Korea DPR vs Spain.
The political party was forced to change the dates after protests and an online campaign by football fans across the state. "We are moving the hartal from October 13 to 16 due to the FIFA U-17 World Cup which is being held in Kochi. There had been requests from various quarters and criticism for giving a hartal call on October 13 when an international football event is being organised in the state," Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala had said.
Meanwhile, APM Mohammed Hanish, senior IAS officer and Nodal Officer for the World Cup in Kochi, said preparations have not been much affected by the statewide strike. "If the hartal had been held on the matchday, it could have proved to be a big problem. However, we could manage it as it was moved to October 16," said Hanish.
"With one more day left for the Round of 16 fixture, we have time in our hands to complete the preparations," he added.