There was controversy in the camp about the lack of organisation before the big match. Some of us were disappointed with the quality of the pitch. It was filled with potholes and there wasn’t a blade of grass anywhere.
When we got to the pitch we were shocked with the enthusiastic nature of the local people. Young kids were flocking around us. It may be the biggest crowd any of us will ever play in front of. There was young and old and male and female. In total there were well over 5000 people lined four deep along the touch and goal lines. Because it was a Moslem village the men all stood on one side and the women on the other.
As the match grew closer our nerves grew intensely. We were aware that most of the crowd were shouting and cheering for the opposition. They were all around 17 or 18 but they were about our size. The match started at a hectic pace and we soon realised they were fitter and faster than us. They played in bare feet and had no fear.
We had shoes and lots of confidence and more control of the ball and while they were more clumsy their passing was good.
We got off to the worst of starts as the Indians took an early lead. Then Luke had a goal kick that hit their crossbar and I volleyed the rebound into the top left corner. I was ecstatic. The Irish crowd were cheering and singing Fields of Athenry, which brought tears of happiness to my eyes. But just minutes later they got a flukey lead. Luke messed up by throwing the ball straight to one of their strikers.
The rest of the match was played at a frantic pace with the crowd roaring in our ears and ended on a low note for us as we lost 2-1.
I was afraid they might make me say a speech and was relieved when I picked up two trophies, the ‘man of the match’ and the runner’s up trophy. We were sore losers. We expected to win because Indians don’t usually play football. The Indian national team never gets to the World cup. In fact we discovered that lots of people play in the villages and there must be so much talent, but no scouts ever come to see them because in this country as with many sports in India it is a ‘rich man’s world’.
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