Pannalal Chatterjee (81) and his wife Chaitali (71) are preparing for their visit to Brazil to attend their 9th FIFA World Cup in a row.
It all began in 1982 when the football-crazy couple, who live in a narrow by-lane at Kidderpore in the south-western part of the city, when they spent one summer at their friend’s place in London and decided to go to Spain to watch the World Cup.
“Such was the excitement that we have not been able to miss any World Cup since then,” the Chatterjees, who leave Kolkata on June 17, told PTI.
They're not the wealthiest people in town though. Pannalal is a retired clerk of the Kolkata Port Trust and his monthly pension is just Rs 7,500. His wife sells sarees in her spare time.
Having given up on fish, and sometimes even sleeping on a half-empty stomach, they are putting together enough to fund their trip to South America.
“Come what may, we have to be there even if it means having to go without fish for months and spending the least on our food. We have to save for each World Cup,” says Pannalal.
The couple say they always take the Tricolour with them and keep them flying high, but regret they feel embarrassed when curious spectators ask them when India will play football.
“We have no answer to their queries... But we tell them we are proud Indians and have come here to watch the World Cup,” Pannalal said.
“I’ll never forget the ’86 final between Argentina and West Germany. When the Argentinians came out on the field, it looked like they hadn’t eaten for a fortnight. I thought they would bite the flesh off this well-fed German side. They obviously won 3-2.” But for all his 1986 memories, Pannalal remains a diehard fan of the team in yellow and green.
As ardent supporters of Brazil, it will be a dream come true for them to witness the extravaganza this time.
“Brazil is the Mecca of football. This was our only wish to watch World Cup in Brazil. We don’t know whether we will be able to go the next time,” he added.
Seeing their passion, an organization called Club Seven is sponsoring their airfare. FIFA is providing them free accommodation in Brazil while Leather Sports Management is sponsoring their tickets for the quarterfinal.
However, Chaitali is worried for her husband’s and her own safety. “Many people have asked us to avoid lanes and stick to main roads. We’ve been told that if a criminal spots two rings on your fingers, you risk losing your hand.”
Her octogenarian husband, however, tries to stay upbeat. “This may well be our last World Cup,” he tells her.
“Who knows how much our health will deteriorate.”
For someone who still can’t tire of debating Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ goal, it’s hard to admit that his World Cup future “is now in God’s hands”.
