Nitesh: I’m a proud Indian Gooner – Arsenal is my religion!
What it means to be a Gooner in the lands of the cricket… by Nitesh Padhi
Football is a universal sport. It binds together many regions, many countries, many religions. North and South Koreans come together to support a club, Indians and Pakistanis come together to show their love for their country. It is an institution, a medium where people flock to, because they connect with it.
Here, in India with a population of more than a billion people, cricket is the main religion. People forget everything when there’s a cricket match on. And now with the world cup win, passion is running high. Cricket, they say is a game, the game of the common masses. But can football really be dismissed because of that?
Among this horde, a couple of people shine through. They are the true fans, the loyalists. They watch every game, every second, and every controversy. I along with a couple of my friends have the unique honour of being some of them. But there are some pretenders, some people who just support the winning team. They cannot bear losing, the embarrassment is too much. I personally know kids my age who change loyalties because of one lost match. At least five of my immediate friends changed their clubs this calendar year.
But for me and my friend Circle, football is our religion (am an atheist, btw, so football is my only religion). We watch every match, to every last second (remember Liverpool at home?). No matter if there’s an exam the next day, none of us has ever missed a match. Of course, being in the age group of 16-18, we suffer on the way. My dad has realized that for me, the biggest punishment is not grounding, it is being forbidden to even switch on the tv or pc to watch a game.
It is not easy to be a football fan in these countries, where the national team is shit. Our performance in the recent Asian Cup was diabolical. It only strengthened people’s logic; it’s no use supporting a sport where the national team doesn’t turn up.
To be a Gooner in this country is taking on the whole nation. But we persevere, for our love for the game is binding, no matter what one throws at us. My love for the Arsenal is gold, and I can never let it go.
If anyone wants to talk about Arsenal with me link up on Twitter! @Nitesh_Padhi
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in my heart and soul lies a true gunner
being in india makes no diff i still dont miss anything i am probably the bigest arsenal maniac in our country
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Hi! I am too from india and suprisingly have the same condition such as urs…i am 14…even at ma school everyone is a cricket fan but there a few of us who always remain loyal to football and even to the guuners..even i follow each and every game..
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I luv dis article.
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Me too..i am proud to be an indian gooner and i wl forever be
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Indians should love to watch all sports not always with Cricket..Just 90 thrilling minutes which makes u happy/sad,where cricket requires a whole day for a result?
I’m proud to be Gunner forever…:)
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Nitesh. I loved you article…so genuine.
Many years back I sponsored an Indian boy who had lost his father, he was from `Patamata Punjang`, or some such name I can`t spell it now ,but I think it was in the West Bengal region. I wasn`t allowed to send him a personal present as it might upset other boys so I sent a football for all the kids to play. It was the only one they had and the whole village got a lot of pleasure from it. That made me happy.I first went to watch Arsenal when they played at Highbury, the year was 1948 and I was 12 years old. They won the first division title that year.I live in Australia now so like you I follow them on TV..Good luck Nitesh….up the Gunners…..
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I believe the place you are looking for is Punjab.
Glad to hear that man! 
@my fellow indians— cheers
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soo true
u noe its hard when u are the only arsenal supporter out of aal the ppl u noe…..but still im proud to be a gooner
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Also depends on where u r from in India…Am from Kolkata and we have a big footballing history in India…The likes of Pele,Maradona,Forlan and some of the biggest stars in football have all visited kolkata/played exhibition matches..Also,the friendly between Argentina and Venezuela(both teams with full strength)will be held on the 2nd September..People here are more inclined to football than cricket(thank god)..Mohan Bagan is the oldest club in Asia(established in 1889)..and who can forget their heroics of 1913 when they beat the well established Sheffields United..We have won 31 of the 65 Santosh Trophy tournaments held..I can go on forever…HAHAHAHA..ALL other states suck..
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Anyone who reads this site might have seen my name a million times in comments section. I am proud man to be a gunner because I think we do things the right way – live within our means, playing the best football in the whole world barring Barca, have one of the best and most sensible managers of any sport in the world, the principles of the club is itself admirable, only plastic fans who want success would support teams like Chelsea, Mancity and Manu. Look at the debt of these clubs.
ManU has debt close to 1 billion dollars but they have already spent 80 million dollars on players, does anyone in their right mind think it is right ? I can go on but it would take a whole day to complete what I want to say so thats enough for now.
What is tough here in India to be a football fan is Espnstar are the only broadcasters so there are only 2 channels to telecast, as a result we miss a lot of Arsenal games say about 8-10 games a season icluding some cup games and our internet systems must be the worst in the whole of universe that live streaming becomes hell.
If sky comes to India it would make football even more accessible and popular.
Cricket plays a huge role in undermining football or for that matter any sport in the country. BCCI, the board of control for cricket in India has such big money that they market the game of cricket in every which way and very cleverly too.
The reason India doesnot have a good national team is that we dont have enough infrastructure but there is no dreath of talent because there are large bases for football in Goa, Kerala, Bengal and north eastern states that amounts to a population of more than 30 crores.
It would take a long time for the scenario to change in India because only now the premier league is getting popular and more kids are taking to the game until then I think we would just have to wait. Arsenal always
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All hail Gunners!!!
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i am also frm india nd a real proud gooner….i live in kolkata nd my religion is arsenal…..it doesnt matter 2 me whether we win or loose i will always be a very proud gooner….CUT MY VEINS AND I WILL BLEED GOONER RED AND WHITE!!!!!!!
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hi i too am frm india and have the same story since the past 10 yrs. i’m 20 now and have seen many of my frnds change loyalties over the past 10yrs but i breathe arsenal and visit to emirates is my pilgrimage
glad to see more such die hard gunners in india
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M also a indian gooner from kolkata i am mad about arsenal… I have the jerseys of thiery,bergamp,persie,fab,viera,pires…and my bedroom is full of posters of arsenal..,ARSENAL is my life and in my love… I wish that i can go to the emirates to feel the passion of arsenal..
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Once a gooner always a gooner……… Its right down to the attitude that we gooners clan have that separates us from the most.
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guys we r goin thro d same difficulties.if only dis cricket frenzy tilts to soccer.btw atleast rovers comin 2 india bcos of venkys.anyway d younger will change dis cricket frenzy i hope…..
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I m from pakistan , love arsenal through heat and soul,gooner since 2004,love arsenal
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Nitesh: I am worried about you. If Arsenal is your religion then you are definitely in trouble.
After all this is done and dusted, all is said and done, what next but death and judgement for if we do not give an account of our lives after we are done on this earth then it is all meaningless and a big illusion and dream
I have no religion but follow him who is able to plead on my behalf on that day and save my soul from hell. It is not about what good deeds I have done as that alone CANNOT save any. Our salvation is a free gift which have been bought at an immense price. The death of one man on the CROSS OF CALVARY!
I have put my trust in him and although I am a passionate Arsenal fan I donot worship Arsenal FC for I worship the King of kings and the Lord of lords who says even till this day, ”I am the way, the truth and the life; no man comes to the Father except by me” His name is Jesus Christ!! Read more about him in the Gospel of John in the Holy Bible. Then truly decide for yourself if Arsenal is or not your religion.
I thought so myself once before but mine was money until I found out that all is vanity!!
India today is experiencing economic transformation on a global scale but amidst all this thousands are turning to Christ as they know it is all temporary but life after death is for all eternity! Where would you spend yours Nitesh? If you want aswers please email me. You have my email address and you will be blessed.
Take good care my friend until then!!!
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Same thing here nitesh,, thax a lot yar, u spoke my words. some times I am a bengali and you know bengali and football are almost similar words,I put football before cricket as I play this game.I love arsenal from my child hood when viera, henry, reyas, pires used to play.. any way keep it up man,, I am waiting for 3rd september(2011)when messi and argentina team will come 2 my city, city of joy..
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am also an indian and arsenal is in my blood not cricket ! Am just waiting to see that day in which indian football team plays in the world cup ! And believe me my fellow indian gunners that day is not very far
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@OnDGooner i dont even know how to respond to that….
and why must i be having ur email address???
p.s. please dont give it to me….!!
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Chak de GUNNERS !
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CRICKET IN INDIA ….IS PLAYED BY CENTRAL AND SOUTH INDIAN.VERY LESS PREFFERANCE IS GIVEN TO WEST N NO AT ALL TO NORTHEAST INDIA.SO NORTH EAST INDIAN HAD TO PLAY FOOTBALL AND THEY ARE LEFT BEHIND BY VERY GOOD LEADERS LIKE A.B VAJPAY,SONIA GANDI,MANMOHAN SING CUNNENT PM,L.K ADVANI THEY EARN GOOD MONEY FROM CRICKET.2 TIME WOMEN BOXING CHAMPION IS FROM MANIPUR SHE IS GIVEN A JOB IN POLICE EARN RS 7THOUSAND N SANIA MIRZA ABD NEWAL THEY GOT MORE THEN 10M FROM GOVERMENT WHEN THEY REACH SIMI FINAL…
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@elvi calm down man.. this post is more about football, not the political state in india…!!
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Am happy to see lot of football lovers here, am from Kerala….and hell YAA am a bloody football lover to every inch of my heart . Like bengal ,here in kerala football is much more enjoyed than any other sports. In fact ,no other state in india promote sports like kerala do, and there is no wonder that people of this land select best sport of all ….jog Bonita FOOTBALL.
I can’t say am the No:1 arsenal fan in here ,coz am sure there will be lot better than me. But i am mad about arsenal more than anything in this world. Am so deep fan that ,this very fact make my GF jealous , because in my wallet i don’t keep her photo, but instead i have Arsenal logo with Thierry henry’s photo. My room is filled with arsenal player photo’s ,banner and any item i find with arsenal logo[i don’t smoke but still i got a lighter wit Arsenal logo ]. At college, i go behind black board and i have drawn arsenal logo, so that no other club fan[there r lot of senseless show-off Manu n Chelsea fans with me] get it done b4 me. Every pillar in out department, i have wrote the “Gunnere 4 lifetime”. I have raised flux banner in front of college gate promoting my team during world cup….even though i have done this much i still feel there will be always a bigger fan than me, but i don’t care …coz all i do care is if u understand the beauty of football through arsenal….there is nothing better to be asked.
Ps: aussi jack…u r the man, wat u did is just awesome wish i could do something like that in my life.
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NITESH: Your loss!!
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@goonrisherish…lol care to elaborate on that? #confused …
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Hai nitesh iam from kerala i love Arsenal i am a true gunner i now 19 year old i like arsenal on my 13 age studiying
8 standard
A lotof football fans my place but true fans is arsenal
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Hai antony you arsenal fan in kerala iam huge fan of arsenal my place kerala malappuram pls contact me 09633913383
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When The Fuck Did You Start This?
Btw..
Gunners Rock!!!
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Nice article Nitesh. I am also Arsenal fan since 2002. I am from India-Pune and currently in UK for job assignment. I could able to see the match on Emirates, last year and it was a life time experience.
Back in Pune, though cricket is the most supported sport, there are thousands of football fans who religiously follow (most of the times) either Manu, Arsenal, Liverpool or Chelsea.
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