The Brazuca Creates a Clamour Here
KOCHI: It is one hour past midnight and rain is beating down heavily on a makeshift tent at Karukappilly. Inside, around 150 drenched men huddled around a giant screen.
A whiff of rum pervaded through the crowd and cigarette butts hit the ground, sending a shower of sparks. At local time 1:30 am, the world cup began in Brazil and the tent in Karukapilly fell silent.
“Adeeda mone!” (C’mon Shoot!) shouted a man hoarsely from the back, triggering a lexicon of comments from the Brazilian supporters as the ball neared the Croatian net a few minutes into the game.
The ball didn’t go in, but the cheer refused to die down. The crowd looked for opportunities to jump from their seat. There was none in the first few minutes. So, they sat back and smiled whenever the camera zoomed in on Neymar, the 22-year-old Brazilian who singularly commanded the respect of most of the people in the tent.
In the 11th minute, Brazil’s Marcelo scored a self goal to the dismay of the predominantly Brazilian supporters. There was no Croatian fan in the tent, but a few cheered the own goal because they loathed Brazil.
Their hearts belong to Argentina or Spain or Germany, and Brazil is their one common rival.
Three minutes later, the ball again neared the Croatian net. Neymar made an acrobatic effort to turn it into a goal, but failed. Consolations flew in from the tent.
“Don’t worry, we still have time,” a man sitting close to the screen said, partly to himself and partly to Neymar.
Then he took a white hard-hat that he passes off as helmet and placed it upside down at the centre of the viewing area.
“Ikka, a little to the left,” suggested a youth sitting opposite to him, apparently buying what he presumably believed to be a good-luck charm.
Soon, rain stopped and Neymar struck. The crowd roared into a thunderous rapture. The hard-hat’s owner and suddenly turned to his left and added, “I told you.”
The hard-hat seemed to have gained more respect. Now, there is more space around it. Several men now have to squeeze in at the back of the tent! The spectacle of the world cup is up and running in Kochi.