KOZHIKODE: As Argentina ended its international title drought with the Copa America win over Brazil on Sunday morning, diehard Argentina fans in the soccer crazy state soaked in celebrations even amid the lockdown restrictions and the monsoon downpour.
True to the huge pre-match build-up witnessed in the state where arch rivalry between Brazil and Argentina fans runs as deep as the state’s political schisms, the clash of the Latin American soccer giants turned out to more than a usual match.
Jubilant fans came out to the streets and took out bike rallies waving Argentine flags at many places in Malabar soon after their living legend Lionel Messi lifted the Copa America trophy. The victory was celebrated by Argentina fans at many places by distributing sweets, biriyani and payasam. After the initial public celebratory burst, the revelries shifted to the virtual realm. Even before the kickoff, WhatsApp groups had got started flooding with live updates of the match progress along with a surfeit of trolls, comments and tit-for-tat responses by fans of rival teams.
With the 22nd minute strike by Angel Di Maria bulging the Brazil net, ecstatic roars and chants of Vamos Argentina erupted from the coastal residential neighbourhood of Nainan Valappu in Kozhikode, which is the epicentre of football excitement in the state. Many Brazil fans went teary eyed when their heartthrob Neymar broke down in tears kneeling on the ground. Even the match defining gesture of Messi hugging a sobbing Neymar failed to take away the sting out of the long-standing rivalry as Argentine fans continued to troll the Brazilian supporters.
Argentina fan and former minister and senior CPM leader, M M Mani were among those who posted a string of messages on Facebook taunting the vanquished Brazil team like ‘Nammade Brazil Padamayi’ (Our Brazil is finished).
“If it were not for the Covid situation, it would have been a day-long celebration involving thousands. Messi laying hands on the Copa America cup that too in Maracana was poetic justice. To celebrate it, Argentina fans are distributing free biriyani for dinner in the village tonight,” N V Subair, president of Nainan Valappu Football Fans Association, said.
Former Indian captain I M Vijayan watched the game in Kochi along with former Kerala team captain T Asif Sahir, both sporting Argentinian colours. “I am very happy that Messi was able to win the cup. After all that he had achieved in his career, it would have been sad if he could not have won it,” Vijayan said.
There were also funny instances like Areakode native Sunil, an ardent Brazil fan, having had to shave off half his moustache in public after he lost his bet against the local Argentina fans. Sunil later opted for a clean shaven look. Meanwhile, two youths in Malappuram suffered burn injuries while bursting crackers at Tanalur. Kannarayil Ijaz and Poochengal Siraj have been admitted to Kozhikode medical college hospital.
