From Saurav Borah
GUWAHATI: The ignominious exit of Die Mannschaft (the German football team) from the FIFA World Cup in Russia late Wednesday evening did leave fans at “German Stadium” in Karbi Anglong’s Diphu shell-shocked and shattered.
But 57-year-old Putul Borah, the man behind “German Stadium,”– a two-storey structure he built a year back at his residence for fans to cheer for his much-loved German team – is already looking ahead, having left the pain of watching the four-time champions go out so uncharacteristically, behind.
“It was heart-breaking to see the 2014 champions go down the way they did to rank underdogs, Korea. I think it’s time for young feet and minds to take over. But having said that, I have a conviction they will bounce back in Qatar 2022,” an unwavering Borah, a die-hard fan of Team Germany since 1986, told The Shillong Times over phone from Diphu on Thursday.
Even dedication would be an understatement for Borah, as he, unlike many religious followers who would brood over for days after a setback, is ever-optimistic.
Bearing testimony is a picture taken on Thursday morning, showing him wearing a “German T-shirt”, holding a placard wishing the former champions “Better Luck at Qatar 2022” and a national flag of Germany along with the customary golden yellow-red-black scarf around his neck.
The man put up a brave face as he stood behind his car parked in front of the “German Stadium” – a structure housing a spacious room, a 56-inch LED TV, a replica of the World Cup that he shipped from the US, posters of champions, flags of Germany and others, logos and souvenirs.
Interestingly, Borah who played the beautiful game till high school does not have a “second” team to root for in the round of 16 and beyond.
“I can never support any other team. The German love affair started after an 80km dash to a relative’s place in Bokajan in 1986 to watch the Mexico World Cup on a black and white television. That year, Maradona’s Argentina defeated my team for the title. But I have never looked back since, with each World Cup and outcome notwithstanding, making me more resolute,” he said.
But the Germany-inspired resolutions in a way shaped his life over three decades now, making him set goals and achieve them.
Asked how he executed the resolutions every four years, he proudly recalled, “I bought a colour TV for ‘Italia ‘90’, built a room for watching ‘USA 1994’, bought a Maruti 800 by ‘France 1998’, and then, as pledged, bought a house for ‘Korea-Japan 2002’”.
“Now, having fulfilled them all, I also promised not to touch alcohol after Germany lost to Brazil in the World Cup 2002 final and to stick by it till they won in 2014. Let me remind you that when Germany lost in 1994 I had buried a Passport Scotch whisky bottle I bought in Kolkata to celebrate another triumph which was not to be. That bottle, like I pledged, was dug out 20 years later, after Germany won their fourth Cup title and safely preserved at home,” Borah, a contractor, said.
Asked whether he has any qualms having invested so much time, money and energy for his passion, he said, “I will never have any regrets for this team which has kept me going every four years. I had taken a bank loan of Rs 15lakh to build the structure and create a World Cup ambience. There’s more in the offing, make no mistake, ahead of Qatar 2022.”
On his resolution for the next four years, Borah was however undecided. “But I want my passion to be seen and heard in Germany. May be some day if someone invites me there, I will be thrilled to oblige. I also have a dream to be part of the real ambience,” he revealed.