Football is a very popular game. Whenever I watch this game on television, I get overjoyed. When I watch it from the stadium gallery I feel as if I am playing it with others on the field.
Although I had seen several football matches during my school days, I had not availed of the chance of witnessing a match held between two states. This opportunity came in the month of July last year. A match was played between Mumbai and West Bengal at Salt Lake Stadium. I went there to witness it.
I bought a ticket with much difficulty and occupied the seat in the gallery. The match was to be played at 4 P.M. The Mohan Bagan of Calcutta had worn white uniform whereas the Mumbai had green uniform. There was a vast gathering in the field. The memory of that game is still afresh in my mind. I found the game highly interesting.
At the appointed time, the Mohan Bagan team started kicking the ball from the center. It marked the commencement of the match. The players of the Mohan Bagan team were spirited from the beginning and attacked the Mumbai players.
Of course, the defense-strategy of the Mumbai was very intelligent. But the spirit of co-operation among the Mohan Bagan players brought a chance of scoring an easy goal against the Mumbai. The crowd cheered up the Mohan Bagans.
In fact, the Mohan Bagans were superior to the Mumbai players in all respects. They won the match because of their presence of mind, the speed and position of players and above all due to the lack of intelligence in the rival team. Mr. Meheta, an old football player, conducted the match. He assisted the referee Mr. Kalu Kitholo of Keral.
The goal keeper of Mohan Bagan was a tall boy. He was never nervous. This virtue helped him a lot. He prevented every stroke by the Mumbai players quite heroically.
The referee blew the whistle at the half time. At that time the score was 1-0 with a lonely goal by Nirad Ganguly of Mohan Bagan. The referee was a very strong headed person. He enforced the laws while deciding the disputed points. Sometimes, the linemen standing on the border of the ground helped the referee in giving decisions.
The Mohan Bagans dominated the match particularly in the second half. The center forward with the help of the midfielder scored two more quick goals against Mumbai. The spectators on the gallery stood up and jubilantly cheered up the Mohan Bagan players. The referee blew the whistle. The match ended. The Mohan Bagan won by 4-0 goals.
