Kolkata, June 8 (IANS) With the FIFA World Cup in South Africa only three days away, celebrities of this soccer-mad city are rescheduling their routine logbook to watch their favourite players and teams in action.
Writers, singers and actors here are either rooting for eternal favourites Brazil or giving their thumbs up for Latin American powerhouse Argentina.
Some feel that the samba magic will again see Brazil finish at the top, while others believe that Lionel Messi’s wizardry would see Argentina through in the month-long competition beginning June 11.
‘My favourite team is Argentina. I am banking a lot on Lionel Messi,’ said leading singer Indranil Sen.
‘I am a die hard soccer fan. My favourite always Brazil,’ said Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay, a writer popular among both teenagers and adults.
But writer Abul Bashar has a different team in mind.
‘I am banking on Brazil but I will also have an eye on Turkey,’ said Bashar.
The celebs have decided to rearrange their busy schedule to watch the maximum number of matches on TV in the month-long soccer carnival. They have also started preparing to savour the late night action.
‘During this time I have to write many stories for the special Durga Puja numbers of magazines. But still I will take out time to see most of the matches. I will even watch the late night games,’ said Shirshendu.
Indrananil Sen echoes Shirshendu.
Saikar Mitra, another popular singer, is a bit choosy about the late night offerings on the soccer pitches in South Africa.
‘Brazil is my first favourite. Spain is my second favourite. If there are good matches then I will surely watch late night contests. And I will surely fix up my schedule so that there is enough room to watch the games,’ said Mitra.
Stage and screen actor Kaushik Sen, an ardent Argentine fan, knows that late night games would impact his professional commitments next day. But the World Cup is a never-to-miss event.
‘In our profession we cannot reschedule our engagements. So even if I watch late night matches I will make sure that all other important engagements are attended properly,’ said Sen.
Kolkata, which is popularly known as the Mecca of Indian Football, is a major centre of football activity in India and home of top national football clubs such as Mohun Bagan AC, Mohammedan Sporting Club and East Bengal.
