BENAULIM: They got here from all components of the state, using scooters, crammed inside buses, pick-up vehicles and even on bicycles.
On Sunday, when the nation celebrated the seventy fifth 12 months of India’s Independence, this group additionally had a get-together of their very own, bonding over soccer, on the church floor in Benaulim.
Welcome to a one-of-its variety soccer competition involving migrants working in Goa. They’re largely from Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha and Chhattisgarh, who’re obsessed with soccer. All of them love the sport as a lot as any true-blooded Goan, for whom soccer is as pricey as fish and feni.
“There is a similar practice in Simdega (Jharkhand), where football matches are played on Independence Day,” mentioned William Kullu, a local of Jharkhand who has been dwelling and dealing in Goa for nearly 20 years. “This is a day of celebration, and we get together amongst ourselves. Football is the most popular sport here and convenient to play too, so we started a football festival of our own.”
The church floor in Benaulim is teeming with folks, all migrants. They’re desperate to get on the sphere and kickstart motion.
Nonetheless, since most of the groups have nonetheless not made it to the venue, the referee — additionally from Jharkhand — has been requested to delay begin.
On the sidelines, everybody’s anxious, and it consists of the gamers’ wives, girlfriends and associates, a few of whom arrange stalls that promote idlis, bhel, boiled eggs and water.
When the competition lastly kicks off previous midday, the motion is in contrast to what you’ve seen earlier than.
The gamers don’t have boots; if somebody is sporting anklets, it’s a luxurious. Most desire regular t-shirts as jerseys are too costly to obtain.
The gamers are recognized by a bright-red wrist band that one group is made to put on. As soon as the match ends, the band is handed on to the group that wins the following toss.
“These are guys who work across the state as masons, waiters, in hotels or at homes where Goans are abroad,” mentioned Mariano Dungdung, who has spent the final 24 years in Goa and now works in Benaulim. “Besides the love for football, a common feature of those who make it here is language. Most of us here speak languages that are common to the (Jharkhand) region.”
The languages, in line with the organisers, embody Sadri, Angika, Khariya, Mundari, Oraon and Santali.
Mariano, although, speaks fluent Konkani.
Groups from Bicholim, Siolim, Sanvordem, Borda, Seraulim and Chakonde, with a mixture of gamers from both the village they reside in or gamers sourced by way of contacts, confirmed up on Sunday, the place the third version of this competition was held.
“The six teams are paired against each other and the winner gets a prize,” mentioned James Kullu, who was entrusted with the duty of admitting groups and finalising the draw.
The prize? A goat.
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