MUMBAI FOOTBALL ARENA
11TH October, Mumbai: Mumbai Football Arena,
Andheri Sports Complex was the place for an electrifying match of the Hero
Indian Super League between Mumbai City FC vs Atletico de Kolkata. I was one
amongst the other 7000 eagerly anticipated people.
Mumbai Football Arena is the new football stadium for the home club
Mumbai City FC. It is located at Andheri, one of the major suburbs of Mumbai.
It is easily accessible, not like the previous cricket-football stadium
Dr.D.Y.Patil stadium a bit far from Mumbai. Therefore I started at 5:00pm along
with my cousin for the match at 7:00pm. We reached there in half an hour and
collected our tickets from a centre nearby. We also purchased Mumbai City FC,
our clubs jersey to support and cheer for them. We were inside the arena by
6:15pm…….
I
never thought that the arena would be such! It was fantabulous! It felt like we
had come to watch a Champions League Match, such was the environment. Being a
football addict, I loved the appeal outside the stadium, with various games and
events organized. As soon as we stepped in the stand, the football field came
alive! It was a dream of mine to witness a high quality match and football
pitch, which seemed to come true.
Entrance of players, toss followed by Kick Off! The intensity of both
the home and away supporters were at peak. At 30th minute Matias
Defederico gave Mumbai the lead, and the crowd erupted! The match was
interesting. At the stands the home supporters chanted for Mumbai’s glory and Referee’s
wrong decisions (Hindi slangs)! It was half time and we thought of leaving for
a quick break, but could not go away because of the amazing performances of
tricks, juggling, balancing by some of the supporters of Mumbai City FC and
also that of the Mascot. 
Game resumed after the break, Mumbai were reduced to ten men. The match
seemed to end with Mumbai winning, only to find Javi Lara of Atletico de
Kolkata stunning us! He secured a point for his team and the lost spirit of
their fans. It ended as Mumbai City FC 1-1 Atletico de Kolkata.
Personally, I loved watching the football match at the new football
stadium. Also loved cheering and chanting for my club along with other
Mumbaikars. The only thing that I missed was: Absence of Sunil Chetri and Diego
Forlan. Though Forlan was on the stands, he wasn’t included in the squad, nor
in the reserves. But that’s fine, because youngsters like Jackiechan Singh got
a chance to play. Loved the experience! Hope you go to watch sports matches in
the stadiums from now! It is much better recreation than watching movies or
going to malls!
No comments:
Post a Comment