Hi. So as it is my first blog post, I'm going to start by writing about the thing I love most, the sport which I'm passionate about the most, the beautiful game - 'Football'.
Yesterday, I switched on my television at 2126 IST, that is, 4 minutes before kick-off of the Holland vs Australia World Cup game and just in time to hear, see and feel the national anthem of the Socceroos. As the team belted out the 'Advance Australian Fair', I was overcome with emotions. Wave after wave of chills hit me as they sung their way through it. The camera starts by focusing on the players' faces and I could see the intense passion they had, for their country and for their game. Steely eyed athletes standing still or singing in remembrance of their Motherland as their minds went through the years of preparation that they had undergone to reach this stage.
The young ones had seen their idols play for their team, some had only dreamed of being there and some had never imagined in their wildest dream that they would be standing here, surrounded by thousands of roaring fans, and more than a billion eyes watching every little move of theirs. But here they were, hands by their sides, around their mates' shoulders or palms across their hearts, swearing to uphold the honor of their nation as they forayed into the battle.
Slowly the camera zooms out and refocuses on the rows and rows of fans. One could sense the passion, the euphoria in the stadium transported straight to their livings rooms. Roaring out the wordings of the anthem, these ardent supporters stood, waiting for the game to begin, some madly waving flags and some in tears. Once again, I shuddered as their elation took me to the stadium, cheering, crying along with them. Separated by thousands of miles, diverse in religion, culture, creed, country, but united by the love of the game.
Next, the Netherlands' players, fans and staff members in the stadium started the same process as the speakers in the stadium struck up their song, the Wilhelmus. Dutch citizens and fans all over the world united for one brief moment as they saluted the great nation, and the great players who had just recently outclassed a Spanish team into a whimpering, sad bunch of players. My world took on an 'orange' hue as I became on of them for those brief moments. My heart, acting of its own will, deja vu'd me and once more took me on a ride to the world of feels and beat faster with each passing second of the anthem.
Throughout those three minutes, as I watched, heard and got lost in the anthems being sung, I thought about the same thing, over and over again. I visualized myself in those players' places, singing MY national anthem in front of the entire world. Stamping MINE, and MY country's image in the minds of the spectators, proving a point to those who doubted us. Singing away our glorious anthem as 'I' prepared for the battle.
That's where I want to be. That is what my ultimate dream is. Stand in front of the entire world representing my country, and doing it proud. And, THIS is why I love football.
My favorite part of the beautiful game, 'those three minutes'.
Yesterday, I switched on my television at 2126 IST, that is, 4 minutes before kick-off of the Holland vs Australia World Cup game and just in time to hear, see and feel the national anthem of the Socceroos. As the team belted out the 'Advance Australian Fair', I was overcome with emotions. Wave after wave of chills hit me as they sung their way through it. The camera starts by focusing on the players' faces and I could see the intense passion they had, for their country and for their game. Steely eyed athletes standing still or singing in remembrance of their Motherland as their minds went through the years of preparation that they had undergone to reach this stage.
The young ones had seen their idols play for their team, some had only dreamed of being there and some had never imagined in their wildest dream that they would be standing here, surrounded by thousands of roaring fans, and more than a billion eyes watching every little move of theirs. But here they were, hands by their sides, around their mates' shoulders or palms across their hearts, swearing to uphold the honor of their nation as they forayed into the battle.
Slowly the camera zooms out and refocuses on the rows and rows of fans. One could sense the passion, the euphoria in the stadium transported straight to their livings rooms. Roaring out the wordings of the anthem, these ardent supporters stood, waiting for the game to begin, some madly waving flags and some in tears. Once again, I shuddered as their elation took me to the stadium, cheering, crying along with them. Separated by thousands of miles, diverse in religion, culture, creed, country, but united by the love of the game.
Next, the Netherlands' players, fans and staff members in the stadium started the same process as the speakers in the stadium struck up their song, the Wilhelmus. Dutch citizens and fans all over the world united for one brief moment as they saluted the great nation, and the great players who had just recently outclassed a Spanish team into a whimpering, sad bunch of players. My world took on an 'orange' hue as I became on of them for those brief moments. My heart, acting of its own will, deja vu'd me and once more took me on a ride to the world of feels and beat faster with each passing second of the anthem.
Throughout those three minutes, as I watched, heard and got lost in the anthems being sung, I thought about the same thing, over and over again. I visualized myself in those players' places, singing MY national anthem in front of the entire world. Stamping MINE, and MY country's image in the minds of the spectators, proving a point to those who doubted us. Singing away our glorious anthem as 'I' prepared for the battle.
That's where I want to be. That is what my ultimate dream is. Stand in front of the entire world representing my country, and doing it proud. And, THIS is why I love football.
