It’s star-gazing time again
NEW DELHI: Not since
October 14, 2010, when the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games took place, has the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium seen such a buzz.
The usually empty parking lot was lined with cars on Monday, and trucks dotted the outer wall of the stadium, unloading equipment. There was an air of excitement with still a day to go for the match.
Inside the long spiralling corridors, workers gave finishing final touches to huge banners with the faces of the Delhi Dynamos stars, who will take to the pitch in their first match of the Indian Super League against Pune City FC. One wondered if all this could have been completed earlier. After going past all that was going on, one saw Dynamos’ marquee player, Italian World Cup-winning striker Alessandro del Piero, at the corner flag doing a photo shoot. It was just him, his photographer and a football The two were oblivious to everything around them, even the workers doing up the team dugouts.
The forward even managed a quick bob as the stadium’s speakers were tested out. “Hopefully, I’ll get an autograph, but a selfie will be the best,” said a hopeful teenager.
Neither happened, but it was clear the city can’t wait for the Italian maestro’s first kick, making sure no time was wasted with even the press conference table being moved after a light went out over del Piero’s seat. The stadium that can be seen for miles will be hoping it can be ready in time for a player whose name cuts across boundaries