FIFA 2010-The Waka Waka Fever

The Grand opening of the FIFA World Cup took place last Friday followed by exciting matches which are keeping us glued to the telly in the evenings.Although India is not on the international football scene (cricket is worshipped here), the game is followed and cheered enthusiastically.

Bengal. Kerala and Goa are the 3 states where the game is most popular

.(Above)Lionel Messi ( ARG)

My fav teams are

Argentina

Brazil

Portugal

Italy

S, Korea

France

Germany

Japan

England

(Above)Cristiano Ronaldo (POR)

Football paraphernalia and momentoes are selling like hot cakes here- team jersey 's, caps, posters and cut outs etc. Those who can afford it are buying the latest LCD and plasma TVs to watch the event in style with adoring friends and family. ..planning football parties.I remember the year when we were all living together and my sister Anju , BIL Prem and their 2 kids were visiting from Nigeria. We were a big jolly group of spectators. Prem used to provide the snacks and Sonia needed no nudging to make cups of tea or sherbet.Our friend Tigi and his German wife, Astrid used to come from across the river to watch the matches with us.One night everyone was centered around the TV , Prem and Anju were sitting/laying on an old camp bed and just as Tigi and Astrid entered the room, the bed broke and they crashed to the floor. We found that more entaining than the 90 minutes

Oh! those were the days. Its always fun to watch a sporting event with a good group of friends.The more the merrier. What do you think?

Its been very hot an d humid these past few days and electricity has been playing truant.

I 've had to take extra pain killers for my flared up joint pain.

This evening a woman came to return some money she borrowed from me. Recently I heard a dreadful news about her which would normally make me want to hate her. But when I saw her I did not feel any anger or animosity towards her. God wiped it all away otherwise I wouldn 't even want to look at her face. I know how the sister felt when she visited the convict in "Dead Man Walking".

Sports does not build character

It reveals it

- James Wooden

In the midst of the blaring of the vuvuzelas (South African horn) I am reminded of the sporting adventure of life

In the New Testament 1 Corinthians 9 says-

" 24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize

25Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize."

I have to examine myself and train myself so that I may not be disqualified.

If you are cheering for any team let me know and I will join with you.