Sikkim’s all about football frenzy. Went to watch the final of the Governor’s Gold Cup yesterday where the match was scheduled between Army XI and Three Star Nepal. I’m not a football buff or anything neither did I watch the earlier games. But I missed last year’s final too so I wanted to watch this time for sure.
The stadium was packed and the first thing that I thought was - God, I hope no one’s planted a bomb or anything. Yeah, I know I was being paranoid but couldnt help myself. After the cultural programme ended and the match was about to start and I was still alive, I relaxed a bit.
I wasnt paying much attention while the team announcements were made so when the match starts, I dont know which team is which. I nudge my aunt, sitting next to me (who’s The football buff) and she doesnt know either. I dont think she cared much; she was busy cheering most of the time and gossiping with the other lady sitting next to her anyway.
I wanted to ask the other people sitting around me but I think - what the heck, I’ll figure that soon enough once they start playing. And thats how by the time the match reaches near half time, I still dont know which is the Nepal team so I can cheer for them! By this time, its too late for me to ask other people for fear of appearing extremely stupid! I look closely at the blue team and catch the words ARMY on their jersey - then went, aahh… All this when the Nepal team was playing in its national flag colours of red and blue.
In the meantime, a kid sitting behind announces - Mama, I feel like going for toilet number two. I felt sorry for the poor mother who had to miss a most exciting start by obliging to her son’s bowel movements.
Somewhere behind me sat the most negative man in the world. He started cribbing when the Army XI players played very well in the first half of the game. He critisized the Nepal players for lack of ball control, slipping and falling on the grass a number of times, playing out long, drawn out injuries and wasting time and so on.
His best comment was - Surely this player doesnt have to run with the ball so much along the entire breadth of the field!
I was initially partial to the Nepal team, just like any other person there but ended up cheering for Army XI, which I felt was the better team except for one inopportune goal which led Nepal to victory.
More photos of the match here: http://sikkim-himalayanreview.blogspot.com/2008/10/photo-features-of-30th-all-india.html
Rinchen madam…..you should come with a memoir. I see a great future for you. And thanks for adding my pics.
Thanks for the pics. I forgot to take my camera so used yours
Thank you for your kind words, sirji.
“….first thing that I thought was - God, I hope no one’s planted a bomb or anything”
A contribution to society from our generation - fear of bombs! I fear the same everytime I take a bus or travel in a train here. Tsk tsk.
I know the feeling… I just hoped and prayed the security people had done their job well.
I was so disappointed with the result that i didn’t stay back for the presentation(I know its a unsporting behavior
). I was supporting Army XI quiet vocally, irritating the people around me, who were all for Nepal. So when my team lost I had to sneak out 
I stayed long after the presentations got over and was highly irked by the kisses blown by the Nepal players.
You sneaked out? Hahaha… I, in turn didnt wave back at the winning team when they ran around the stadium waving at their audience!
Did you call out ‘four’,’six’ etc, before half time?
You score a goal for letting me know about All India Governor’s Gold Cup in detail. Is it a real gold cup?
I nearly called the referee “Umpire” if thats what you mean
Nice way with words, Unnikutta. I dunno if its a real gold cup; some of the Nepal players were good looking, by the way
We have a saying in Malayalam - “Thakka samayathu marukandam chaaduka”
which means jumping to the other field at the exact time.
(I hope you got my drift)
The drift is a dot to me
Means, you switched your allegiances when you saw that the other team was better.
Hehehe… yeah but I should’ve stuck to the original team who won
Lucky you! I managed to catch only the initial matches in the unoccupied stadium. Wish I was there for the finals! And still can’t believe the 45-minute tragedy! LOL. LOL.
btw, I enjoy the special comments from the gallery a lot!!
Maybe one day when we’re old and lost most of our teeth, we can go together and watch the match from the Senior Citizen’s gallery, which the govt should build specifically for old timers like us (then, now now!)
Shaliya ru the daughter of author of dui thopa ansu
Shital: Yeah, I am. Have you read his other books?
whow Shaliya….nice to know about it, i have only dui thopa ansu in my collection. Never the less you pa is a big name in sikkim nepali literature. how is it to be a star daughter?
I can tell you how it feels to be a star daughter’s friend but you guys finish your conversation first
oye hoi…..MADAM!!
Hahaha… sorry, I type before I think, in all probability
Shital: I almost feel like a Bollywood star!
I am glad you know my father! Now I know all those felicitations and certificates are really true!!
You gotto get a copy of Abhilasha and Karun-Sagar. They are my personal favourites. Thanks for reading dui thopa aansu. Rinchen was there for the recent book launch of Karun Sagar too, you know.
Wow Rinch ..,
You should share it. Nice to know we have a celeb’s daughter here.
It must be a fun in book release ceremony….do u know Krishna Prasad from Singtam, he told me he knows you.