When Ronaldinho catches a cold, football fans in Kolkata sneeze. The World Cup countdown has begun in India’s Brazil-besotted football capital.
KOLKATA: When Ronaldinho catches a cold, football fans in Kolkata sneeze. The World Cup countdown has begun in India’s Brazil-besotted football capital. Kolkata football fans are painting their city yellow and green in support of Brazil this year.
Football mania has divided the population between arch rival clubs, East Bengal and Mohun Bagan, for several decades. Now, Brazil unites people when it comes to international football, though Argentina is a close second.
With no Election Commission to crack down on graffiti, Kolkata’s walls have been painted yellow and green with larger than life figures of Ronaldinho and Ronaldo in action. England’s injury-hit Wayne Rooney and Argentina’s Lionel Messi are also featured on city walls.
Despite Maradona’s retirement from football, Kolkata’s commitment to the Argentine has not waned.
While Kalighat in south Kolkata is the place to spot the best graffiti featuring players from Brazil and Argentina, many other neighbourhoods have also caught up. People are not only painting walls, they are painting themselves too.
In Subhas Sangha Club in Kalighat, youngsters paint their faces with the colours of Brazil. A few also sport the colours of Argentina and Holland.
One can truly mistake the city’s Maidan Market located in downtown Esplanade as something straight out of Rio de Janeiro.
Rows of sporting goods shops are stocked with yellow and green Brazil jerseys as well as other football souvenirs like caps and flags of other playing nations.
“The demand for Brazil jerseys is the highest, followed by Argentina, though other countries are selling well too.
Teenagers are experimenting with other European countries, but those from the older generation still prefer Brazil,” said a shopkeeper of Maidan Market.
Sports dressing and fashion is in. The economical Maidan Market apart, many big and branded outlets sell football T-shirts for Rs200 and jackets and jerseys for Rs500.
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