LETTER FROM A FAN

Author- Shubham Priyadarshi

 

 

Image Credit- FIFA. 

  

Dearest Chelsea Football Club,

"When you start supporting a football club, you don't support it because of the trophies, or a player, or history, you support it because you found yourself somewhere there; found a place where you belong."

I started following club football around 2008-09, when arguably the greatest dynasty in club football, led by the best player of all time, was taking shape. I was fascinated by something called tiki-taka. They were to face some club from west London, called Chelsea, who were well run. It was a mere formality, Barcelona were going to win. However, Chelsea were no pushovers. In the deciding game, Barcelona till the final minute, were not able to register a single shot on target and qualified for the final only because of what is undoubtedly the worst performance in a match of such severity. A club was wronged despite giving its all and as things go, no one cared apart from its fans. But on that eventful night, I found myself there, perhaps found a place where I belonged.

Chelsea FC is no European royalty like Real Madrid or the dynasty which was FC Barcelona. But we have our own identity. Fighting against all odds, some created by our own mistakes, some which exist without our fault. Even half of this season, we were no were near good enough but we turned it around through decisive action and against quality components. And that's why the results of this football club which is present in London, impacts the lives of someone living in India and all over the world.

I know this fickle moment of euphoric joy won't last long but I guess it is for moments like these that we stick together through thick and thin and always will.

From,
A Fan.

THE GAME OF OUR TIMES [CNLU BATCH OF 2020 V. CNLU BATCH OF 2021]

CNLU 2021 BATCH WITH THE RUNNERS UP TROPHY [2018 Edition]

 Image Credit- Lawman's Photography

 

It was February, 2017. Some of the football enthusiasts from my batch decided that we should have an inter-batch football tournament. Inter-batch tournaments were not new in our college. We had inter-batch tournaments of cricket and kabaddi (Both male and female).  So why not football. As a result the foundation of the first CNLU Inter-Batch Football Tournament was laid. However the game which eventually became the El-Classico of our university was the game between CNLU Batch of 2020 and CNLU Batch of 2021. 

The first encounter between the two sides was a close one. However at the end, the batch of 2020 won the game because of an own goal by a defender of 2021 batch. But, this was just the beginning of a great rivalry.

In the second edition of the tournament, the rivalry became even more intense. The two batches first played against each other in a group stage game which ended in a 1-1 draw.  The tension, the drama was unparalleled. So much so that even the referee and the linesmen felt the heat (P.S.- The author was linesman in this game and out of anger and frustration he threw the flag on a supporter and left the ground swearing). 

The two sides again faced each other in the finals of the 2018 Inter-Batch Football tournament. The score read 1-1 at the end of 45 minutes. Aman Singh scored for the 2020 batch, whereas Vivek Thakur scored for the 2021 batch. The final was now to be decided on penalties. In the penalties the 2020 batch were successful in scoring 3 of their 5 penalties. On the other hand CNLU Batch of 2021 were able to score only one penalty. The CNLU Batch of 2020 lifted their second Inter-Batch Football Trophy.

In the opening game of the third edition, the 2021 batch were all over the defending champions.  However they failed to get past their defense as well as their goalkeeper (P.S.- The author was the goalkeeper so there can be certain element of bias).  On the other hand the 2020 batch scored one goal which remained the only difference between the two sides. 

In the final of the third edition, both the teams lost their crucial players. However still the quality of the game remained the same. The score was 0-0 at the end of 45 minutes. One more final was now to be decided on penalties. Once again the CNLU Batch of 2020 turned out to be winners. The 2020 batch got three out of five penalties correct. On the other hand the 2021 batch were successful in only couple of occasions. The author of this post got the best goalkeeper's trophy, whereas Nishant got the top scorer's trophy. But, most importantly the CNLU Batch of 2020 lifted the winners trophy for the third consecutive time.

The batch of 2020 and 2021 were gearing up for their final encounter in the 2020 edition. However the pandemic had some other plans. The Covid-19 pandemic resulted in the closure of university as well as the inter-batch football tournament. The rivalry met a fatal end.

Today both 2020 batch and 2021 batch have become an alumni of Chanakya National Law University. But, their rivalry will still be felt in the grounds of our college. The cheers of their supporters will still echo in the grounds of our college. 

 

CNLU BATCH OF 2021 WITH THE RUNNERS UP TROPHY [2019 Edition]

Image Credit- Lawman's Photography

CNLU BATCH OF 2020 WITH THE WINNERS TROPHY [2019 Edition].

 Image Credit- Lawman's Photography

THAT NIGHT IN SOCHI

 

 

Image Credit- The Indian Express.

 

It was 2018 FIFA World Cup. 2010 World Cup Champions Spain were facing 2016 European Champions Portugal in Sochi. Both the sides wanted to win so that they can start their world cup campaign with a bang. 

In the 4th minute of the game Nacho committed a foul and Ronaldo scored a penalty. However in the 24th minute Diego Costa scored the equalizer with a low shot to the left corner. But, just before half-time Spanish Goalkeeper David De Gea committed a howler. Ronaldo hit a short from outside the box, but De Gea fumbled and at half time the score read- Portugal 2- 1 Spain.

In the 55th minute Diego Costa scored the equalizer for Spain. Post this Nacho scored  third goal for Spain in the 58th minute with a right foot half-volley in off the post from the edge of the penalty box.

However in the 88th minute of the game Cristiano Ronaldo scored a screamer. The free kick which went past the defenders as well as the goal keeper into the top-right corner of the net.  The score was level. Eventually the game ended in a draw and both sides were awarded a point. But, this match will be remembered by football fans for ages. 

 P.S.- At the age of 33, Cristiano Ronaldo became the oldest hat-trick scorer in the FIFA World Cup.

THE LEGEND OF LIONEL MESSI- POST - 1

 Image Source- Daily Mail

 Lionel Messi through his innumerable footballing performances has mesmerized the football fans all over the world. Therefore it will be hard to discuss about his every performance in one blog post. As a result in this blog post, the author will be discussing about one of his great performances.

In the La Liga Season 2006-07, Barcelona were facing their arch rivals Real Madrid at home. It was a must win game for the hosts to keep their title hopes alive. But, within 5 minutes Ruud van Nistelrooy scored the opening goal. However in the 11th minute Lionel Messi scored the equalizer. But, the Dutchman scored a second goal in the 13th minute itself. Courtesy- Penalty.

Lionel Messi again equalized for  Barcelona in the 27th minute of the game. The score read 2-2. This continued for 45 minutes. However in the 73rd minute of the game, Sergio Ramos scored the third goal for Real Madrid. The hosts were now trailing behind. 

But the game is not over till the final whistle is blown.  FC Barcelona fought back and a young 19 years old Lionel Messi scored his first hat trick in the 90th minute of the game. The scorecard read 3-3. The match ended in a draw. But, the performance of Lionel Messi was appreciated by all.

Even though Real Madrid lifted the La Liga trophy at the end of 2006/07 season. However it was Lionel Messi who announced himself on the big stage in this very season.

MAGICAL ZIZOU

 Image Credit- Fifa.com

 In the last post I discussed about the very first football match I saw. However in this post I will be talking about my first favorite football player. The England v Portugal match was done and the Portuguese marched into the semi-finals of the World Cup.

 After taking break for a few minutes, I switched on my TV Set again to watch the 4th Quarter-Final of the 2006 FIFA World Cup. It was Brazil v France at Frankfurt. The winner was to play Portugal in the second semi-final. 

However when the match started the only player to whom my eyes were glued was Zinedine Zidane. There were other big players on the ground like Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Kaka, Thierry Henry etc... But, magical Zizou overshadowed them all. 

The dribbling skills, the ball control and the amazing assist of Zidane to Thierry Henry made me his fan. Eventually the French won the game 1-0 and qualified for the World Cup semi-finals. Zinedine Zidane continued his magical run in the semi-final as well and the French made it to the 2006 World Cup final. 

In the final, Zidane scored the opening goal for France. Marco Materazzi soon scored the equalizer and the score read 1-1. However in the extra time we witnessed something which should never have happened. Marco Materazzi verbally provoked Zidane which ultimately resulted in a headbutt and Zidane was sent off. 

With this red card, a legendary career came to an end. Eventually the Italians won the 2006 FIFA World Cup. However it was Zizou and his French side which won the heart of a 10 years old watching football for the very first time.

THE FIRST FOOTBALL MATCH I SAW

                                                             Image Credit- Republic World.

 

 

Even though football is not a major sport in India. However during the FIFA World Cup even a country like India becomes football obsessed nation. My family being no exception. It was July, 2006 and the World Cup has reached its quarter final stage. 

My parents watched the Argentina-Germany quarterfinal match. However I was stopped from watching the same because I had school next day. Fortunately the next quarterfinal match was played on Saturday and I was allowed by my parents to watch the quarterfinal game in entirety.

So the first football match which I saw was the 2006 FIFA World Cup Quarterfinal match between England and Portugal. Portugal beat Netherlands 1-0 in the round of 16 match to qualify for the quarterfinal. Whereas England beat Ecuador 1-0 to qualify for the quarterfinal.

England lost their captain David Beckham to injury just after the half time. However the turning point of the game was when a young English Striker Wayne Rooney was sent off for a stamp on Ricardo Carvalho. 

After the red card the English fought hard and at the end of 120 minutes the score card read 0-0. The match was now to be decided on penalties. Lampard, Gerrard, Carragher all missed their penalties. The only Englishman who scored the penalty was Owen Hargreaves.  The Portuguese missed a couple of their penalties as well. However the deciding penalty of a young Cristiano Ronaldo smashed English hopes of reaching the World Cup semifinal. 

Even though it was Cristiano Ronaldo who smashed the English dreams of a World Cup Semifinal spot. But, still because of his skills and goals, Ronaldo became the favorite of the English Crowd including Wayne Rooney.  

                                                                Image Credit- Pinterest.