World Cup fever grips Kozhikode, Malappuram in Kerala

Kozhikode, June 5 (UNI) With three more days to go for the biggest sporting event on earth to kickstart in Germany, the football-friendly Kozhikode and Malappurm districts in Kerala are already in the grip of soccer fever, if the growing enthusiam expressed by them in the game was any indication.

Go to any tea shop or dhaba even at the remote Malappuram strict.

The agenda is nothing but football instead of local politics.

Speakers, it appeared biased little bit towards Brazil as one could hear majority of them acclaiming their favourites Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, and their other team mates.

Fans of different teams have put up cutouts and large posters in different parts of the district.

Flexi boards showcasing the Brazilians could be seen every nook and corner of the district, which virtually readied itself to become part of that football mania about a month ago.

Shops selling flags of different teams, including Argentina, Brazil, France, Italy and England participating in the mega event was doing brisk business.

Die-hard football fans are organising matches expressing loyalty to a particular team like Argentina or Brazil in the district.

Clubs and Associations also readied themselves for the big event.

They also started issuing identity cards for the members preventing them from switching sides.

''Such enthusiasm was not even witnessed during the recent neck and neck Assembly elections,'' said a club member.

Scenario is not much different in Kozhikode with many flexi boards depicting prominent teams in action coming up in street corners, beach and even in the remote areas.

Such boards could be seen in coastal areas such as Mukhadar, Vellayil, Kuttichira, Cherootty Road, Valiyangadi, Kallai, Tiruvannur, Panniyankara, Meenchanda, Mathara and many other places.

''Could Argentina lads win over Brazilian tiger cubs,? quite impossible,'' reads the board at Mathara in the district.

Many shops in the city were selling T-shirts carrying jersey numbers of well-known players.

A shop owner said he had already sold 200 T-Shirts of Argentina against the 170 of Brazil adding T-shirts carrying players of England, Italy and France are also in much demand.

Electronics shops, which offered special rebate for television sets, were doing brisk business in the city.

Reports of people involving in betting and tonsuring their heads in connection with the mega event were also common in these districts.

UNI PCH1724