First thing you need to know about me is: MANCHESTER UNITED I live and swear by the best football club in the world. I had a chance to visit OLD TRAFFORD, on 6th November 2010, United played Wolverhampton Rovers. It was a dream of a life time to step into the 'Theater of Dreams' and enjoy a game of football with fellow supporters. The match was filled with adrenaline and the whole 90mins was a roller coaster ride with fans chanting U.N.I.T.E.D United are the team for me.... Attack, Attack, Attack and many of the famous sing-songs i was over the moon and beyond happy. United won the game 2-1, post match celebrations included a evening tea and English snacks at the local pub in Trafford with friends. As a United fan, i'd witnessed the my team play and win...an epic memory i will boost about for days to come. The world is a small place, you see, i came across a United fan in Bombay, who loves and supports the club with all his heart. Rahul Ahire, is one such lad. The following post is his contribution to my blog. And i would like to apologies for the delay for posting it and also thank you for contributing to the Blog. Cheers!
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I remember this was by 7th birthday and as usual I was jumping with joy, waiting for my parents to buy me a packet of chocolates, I could take along to school. But to my dismay, it was a bank holiday and I was left in disrupt. But nevertheless, holiday is one thing we would all jump on to with glee, and so did I. I was eagerly awaiting my birthday present from dad and guess what he gave me - A Football! To be honest, I wasn't too happy getting this from him. Naturally for a cricket frenzy kiddo, a football meant "WTF??" But maturity that I am born with (pats his back), I took it along and ran to play, rather show-off!
I placed the ball a good 15 meters away from the so-called goal post (We used rubber chappals to stand between glory). And with the first kick, I managed to sneak past the my friends legs with a crazy shot! That, for me was THE turning point. I had found a new amuse, a new love, a new addiction - Football!
Growing years were tough, not financially but because I was a loner battling friends to play football rather than the national game. I would wake up in the morning and run on the ground with my new found love and play with it till my mother used to come yelling to get me packed for school.
I was 13 when I was watching TV. I saw a rather blondish man running with his wings spread after scoring a goal. A red jersey, white shorts a young lad in his 20, I was in awe of him. Not that my sexual preferences had anything to do with it, but the way he curled the ball was something I was awestruck with. The man was none other than BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM and I had found an idol in him - Reason No. 1 - My idol was here.
Those days, David Beckham used to play for Manchester United. The 'Red Devils' had only just won a treble last year and were looking strong to win the English Premier League. My love for Beckham took me to Old Trafford in Manchester, the undoubted Pride of Manchester. I am sure some City fans will negotiate, but yeah, WHATEVER! I saw United play against Tottenham Hotspur and Beckham curled a superb cross to let Dwight Yorke score. I got goosebumps to see the emotions that were on my tv set. That again, was the turning point - Reason No. 2 - The emotional connect this game had on me.
In the following years, I had a alloted slot to watch the Premier League (Now known was the Barclays Premier League) I used to sit up with my dad and watch United's matches and my dad used to always sprung the unexpected results by supporting the rival teams, his favorite - Manchester City and Arsenal. The biggest pissing off factor for me was my father not supporting MY TEAM (I had given it my own little authority :p) But then again, it was his nature, perhaps to help me grow as a competitor.
Cometh 2003, the unexpected happened and David Beckham left United to join Real Madrid. I was disappointed, hurt and had even decided to quit watching football. WHY? Because my idol wouldn't play for MY TEAM, then who do I watch it for?
After Beckhams departure from Old Trafford, Sir Alex Ferguson signed Portuguese sensation, Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro. And on 12th August 2003, Cristiano Ronaldo held up the famous Red shirt, with his favourite number 7! 1.84 metres tall, sort of blonde hair and well-built, this lad seemed to have everything a fierce winger needed to be. He entered the foray with a 1-0 win over Bolton and following a match winning performance, Ronaldo instantly became a hit. United won the English Premier League title that year. - Reason No. 3 - They had a flair for winning.
Ronaldo continued his amazing streak in 08/09 scoring 42 goals in all competitions. Manchester United won the Premier League and the Uefa Champions League that season beaitng Chelsea on penalties in a heart-beating final. And they continued their record the next year winning the Premier league title. And the time came! Ronaldo followed Beckham's steps and landed up at Madrid for a record $90 million USD. My heart broke again. What would United do now? Will they ever win again? Questions started to pour in from all corners, but no answers.
The title slipped into Chelsea's hands after Ronaldo's exit, but United didn't stop, They played their heart out the next season and won the League Cup. - Reason No. 4 - Never say Die attitude.
After almost 8 plus years of supporting Manchester United, I finally got my answers to why I am a Red Devil.
a. They never gave up until the final whistle was blown. (96th min winner against City)
b. Though the odds were against them, they still BELIEVED!
c. They never played for personal glory, but to keep the Reds Flag flying high.
And the last but the most important reason, for me, - There is only One God, There is only One Heart and there can be just ONE UNITED!
--- A small, yet proud United supporter
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Twitter: http://twitter.com/Rahul_Ahire
Blog: http://rahulahire87.blogspot.
