Football, like any competitive game, is a mirror of life

I’ve been a diehard fan of English Premier League for two decades. I am among the fans who are loyal to football even when the much-hyped cricket juggernaut overran the ‘Jogo Bonito’, the beautiful game.

Football is a beautiful game of 90 minutes. Its acceptance is such that it is the only game played by all countries in the world. I often wonder how people in England can afford to watch every match at their respective stadia buying exorbitant tickets and setting aside weekend chores. It must be their way of life.

I also wonder how Indians only know Brazil and Argentina while other European, Latin American, African and Asian countries play fantastic football. For most of the football fans in India, only Messi, Ronaldo and Neymar are the iconic stars. Of course they deserve it, but don’t they know Riyad Mahrez, Manuel Neuer, Harry Kane, Thomas Muller, Paul Pogba, Eden Hazard or Mario Gotze? Why the Indian psyche is more sympathetic towards Latin American nations is worthy of discussion.

Any big competitive team game, markedly football, is a mirror of life. The high expectations and unexpected setbacks, the team work and individual sparks, the telling victories and defeats, the stalemates and consistent wins. All these are replicas of life’s struggle. In fact, football, per se, is a great management lesson. The managers, their strategies, tactics, calibre of players, the positions they play, the substitutes, the pep talks at the beginning, intervals and at extra time. All of them echo modern management theories. This game never dies. The only thing is that we should have an attitude to enjoy it.

( Inner Voice comprises contributions from our readers The views expressed are personal) innervoice@hindustantimes.com