Driving the Bandwagon

 

Dear Guys,

Ok so World Cup fever 2010 has gripped us and with it comes the music, the packed bars, the extended lunchtimes and breakfast breaks, the team rivalry, the questionable referee decisions and the incessant bragging from supporters who have been lucky enough to see their team succeed. Since the year is 2010 then just as in every other aspect of life on this planet women are both interested and involved. Not only do women now play football from childhood to professional level, but women have become increasingly excited about watching the sport.

I am one of those women. I am not as obsessed as some. I only tuned in on the second round. I don’t live my life to watch a football match. I don’t spend my money betting on games which by their very nature are unpredictable and basically I have a life. But I have enjoyed the World Cup. I like watching the games, involving myself in the idle banter amongst rival supporters and most of all I love the lime. For that you have branded me a bandwagonist. Mostly by you men who seem to think you have the exclusive rights to team support.

Now firstly, let me break it to you dudes. The rules of the sport are NOT that hard to understand. You may think its rocket science but believe you me if we can land on the moon, build skyscrapers and run a country then I think we can grasp the concept of onside/offside, corner, free kick and penalty. Every team sport has offence and defence and well you gotta have someone in the middle. As Mexico and England learnt the hard way, the referee’s decision is always final. And once you get the ball into the net more times than your opponent, guess what? You win. My 5 year old god daughter could grasp that!

As for who won what when? Well, what’s ‘google’ there for? There is simply no need to sit down with that ‘by now ratty’ piece of paper and lecture me about who has been playing like what since round one. Who cares? Point is even if they made it this far and their past performance cannot save them from elimination, as all you German fans learnt on Wednesday and as all you Spanish fans will find out tomorrow.

Furthermore, last time I checked, FIFA, TV Stations, Radio Stations, Sports Bar proprietors, Host Countries, Merchandisers and the football players themselves could not care less whether I am spending my hard earned money dissecting every second of football played or trying to see Cristiano’s abs through his sweat drenched t-shirt. Why? Because my money spent counts just as much as yours.

That said, let me proudly explain who I have been backing and why?

Brazil

My favourite colour is and has always been Yellow

I love watching Robinho spend 30 seconds running circles around his opponent. It’s actually kind of funny.

Watching the team and their supporters celebrate a goal would bring happiness to anyone, unless you have no soul.

Argentina

Who doesn’t love the colourful personality of Maradonna?

Who doesn’t enjoy watching eleven little Rico Suaves running up and down the field in itsy bitsy shorts, their long tresses waving in the wind?

Who doesn’t look good in baby blue?

Portugal

Cristiano Ronaldo (even if he is hotter than you)

Cristiano Ronaldo (even if you think he is gay)

And oh yeah Cristiano Ronaldo (because the man is just damn fine)

All African Teams

Taking a ‘wine’ on the sideline after scoring a goal, now that is something I can relate to. Nuff said!

Tomorrow I support Holland because you Spanish supporters are just being downright annoying!

Does this make me a bonafide bandwagonist? Possibly. But the reality is all human beings under the sun are born free and until you can show me where the law states that you HAVE TO HAVE a particular reason for backing a team, leave me to drive my bandwagon in peace.

To you I say (accompanied by a slap on the bum)
“Go get me some chips tuts the game is on!”

 

Love always

Gabby aka Bandwagonist Extraordinaire

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