sChmo0kler

 …is CRAZY. And that’s about the only thing I’m pretty much sure about the sport here.

Gulf Cup 2009 is hosted by the Sutanate and since it started a couple of weeks back, football fever was on. Though the home team’s initial game was a draw against Kuwait, they rebounded back in the next two against Iraq and Bahrain, reportedly putting up a good show. Crowds reached frenzy level when Oman won the latest match against Qatar, just early this evening, ensuring them a place for the Finals.

As of writing, highways are still jam-packed with rallying cars carrying fans crazily hanging outside the windows waving the red, green and white colors of Oman. Non-stop honking, lights and sirens blaring, all-out noise barrage and people just out acting bonkers. I’ve never seen the locals behave this way, not even on their National day, new year or any other holiday for that matter!

I cannot totally join the whole national feeling of exhilaration, since I’m not exactly a fan of the sport, which incidentally we know as soccer. Naturally, growing up with bastketball as the most popular sport in the P.I., followed by volleyball, bowling and maybe tennis didn’t give me much opportunity to appreciate the nuances of this sport. Same goes for cricket, rugby and lacrosse. But even now, it seems so tiring and frustrating to look at all the running around chasing after one ball. Fans will kill me, im sure =) Although I have to say, freestyle football is looking much more intriguing to me.

But all in all, the merriment here is quite contagious and I believe it’s actually beneficial to everyone’s health and work. So at this point, and for whatever it is worth, I congratulate the home team for reaching this far and I wish them all the best for the Finals. And I  DO fervently hope that they emerge champions as well. That way, ALL of us will be celebrating the one-day holiday promised when they do so =) CHEERS!