Kolkata couple to travel for 10th Football World Cup together
What's the story
In 1982, the first live television broadcast of the FIFA World Cup had Kolkata in a frenzy. Back then, the middle-class couple Pannalal and Chaitali Chatterjee had already taken their first step into what would become an epic journey. Fast forward to 2018, they, after years of sacrifices, are all set to travel to Russia to watch their tenth world cup together...LIVE. Here's their story!
World Cup visits
This might be the couple's last trip together
As football-loving Kolkatans sat glued to their television sets watching the 1982 World Cup in Spain, Brazil-fans Pannalal and Chaitali were watching Paolo Rossi's predatory skills from the stands. Since then, the couple has been to every FIFA World Cup. Pannalal, aged 85 years now, feels that the 2018 World Cup might just be his last.
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The couple's epic and emotional journey might be ending
"I will be nearing 90 in 2022 and there's little hope that we would make it to Qatar for the next edition," said an emotional Pannalal to PTI, from their small apartment in the locality of Kidderpore in Kolkata.
Hiccups
However, the couple faces some hiccups in this year's journey
The couple, however, has been able to purchase just three tickets this time, and has written to the FIFA Organizing Committee and the Russian Consulate, asking for tickets on passionate grounds. While a response hasn't come in yet, the couple might get more tickets since they already enjoy a celebrity status - their story was featured on FIFA.com during the U-17 World Cup.
Sacrifices
Their four-yearly pilgrimages came with hundreds of sacrifices
Being middle-class, the couple's epic 10-year-long journey came with hundreds of sacrifices. The couple maintained a 'world cup fund' throughout, and ensured that it was always sufficient for their four-yearly pilgrimages. They curtailed on eating food they liked, consumeristic spending, and lived on a shoestring budget to make their trips possible.
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Pannalal explains how much they've had to sacrifice
"For the last four years, I have been holding back from eating my favorite fish and many days my stomach has been half-empty to make sure that we have enough money for this tournament in Brazil," said Pannalal.
Worth it
The couple have had experiences of a lifetime
However, it gave them experiences of a lifetime. "Of course, it was watching Maradona's brilliance at the 1986 World Cup. Watching the Hand of God occurring right before my eyes...how can you expect anything else to top that memory," said Chaitali, her face lighting up. "It's always been my dream to watch the World Cup in Brazil. It's the Mecca of Football," Pannalal said.