I started my trip from a small town called Perinthalmanna in Malappuram District. Around 11:30, I reached at the footsteps of the 'Garima Sports and Fitness', one of the leading sports stores here.
Never in my life have I seen such a crowd in a sports store. Most of customers are in their teens, busy selecting jerseys of their favourite football players.
Shamir, owner of the store, with his aides. He has procured a wide range of World Cup special merchandises for the fans.
Flags of leading football playing nations, car stickers, wrist bands, jerseys of great players, shawls, ribbons and the list continues..
Store is stuffed with football related merchandising! Most of the materials comes from the neighboring districts of Palakkad, Ernakulam and Thiruppur, a town in Tamil Nadu which is famous for Knitwear.
Brazil fans in their favourite teams' jersey, in front of the sports store. In spite of all these wide range of merchandising, the crazy fans' never ending demands continue and Shamir is clueless on where to go and get the stuff.
The rival gang, hard core Argentina fans! Shamir prays that Argentina and Brazil should at least reach the semi finals, otherwise all this festivity will stop. But for the time being, its festival time and Shamir is busy helping his customers!
Later during the trip, I found this Brazil and Messi printed slippers in a shop at Pattambi, Palakkad! The slippers are from New Delhi and costs almost Rs. 180 for a pair.
And a proud Brazil fan was ready to show his loyalty!
To be continued....
*Sandeep Varma writes for FootballKerala.com *
From the archive. First published on footballkerala.com on Thursday 1 July 2010, restored from the site's 2012 database. Text as originally published.
Comments · 1
I need a pair of Ivory coast slippers!