Rooting for Brazil

FIFA World Cups fascinate millions of soccer fans around the world. The first World Cup that took place when I was conscious of myself was the 1994 one held in the United States. Even though my family owned a black and white television set that aired the matches, I didn't take an interest in the World Cup since I was too young to understand and enjoy soccer.

It was one of my neighbour's children, led by Ludovic Kahoro, who made the most of our television in following the World Cup when they visited our home to watch the matches which were aired late at night. Kahoro, who is now a Catholic catechist, still remembers those visits and never shies away from mentioning them.

The 1998 World Cup took place when I was old enough to recall things but I hadn't been influenced to love soccer. All I recall that year was how my primary school classmates idolized Ronaldo, the then talented Brazilian striker.

A local chewing gum manufacturing company took advantage of the popularity of soccer in 1998 by attaching small photos of soccer players on its chewing gums. Some of my classmates who idolized Ronaldo offered to exchange several of those photos for one of Ronaldo. That's how deeply they adored Ronaldo.

Because I was consumed with the desire to excel in academics, I also didn't take an interest in the 2002 World Cup which was held when I was a first former at Starehe Boys' Centre. And with the strict school rules that required us first formers to be in bed by 9:30 p.m., I doubt whether I would have watched the World Cup anyway.

The 2006 World Cup was the first one that I followed with fervent interest after having been influenced to love soccer by some of my high school classmates, especially Wesley Chege who enjoyed leading discussions and arguments on soccer.

I was still in Starehe, pursuing a diploma in the institute division of the school, when the 2006 World Cup took place. As I waited for the World Cup to commence, I created a software program on the World Cup fixtures using the computer programming skills I was acquiring at the institute. Creating the software was a deeply fulfilling experience.

My favourite team that time I created the software program was Brazil which I believed would lift the World Cup because of its then talented and experienced attacking combo of Ronaldo and Ronaldinho. Even though the school rules were still strigent, I managed to break them together with some of my friends in Starehe Institute and went to watch some of the World Cup matches.

Given the way I strongly rooted for Brazil, I was heartsick when the team lost to France in the quarter-finals after a surprise goal by a lethal French striker named Thierry Henry. I was so heartsick that I didn't turn up for church the following day.

The 2010 World Cup took place at a time I was facing hard times in my life. I had just dropped out of the university in JKUAT the previous year and was still unsure of what to do with my life. And when the World Cup began that year, I thought it would rejuvenate my spirits.

How wrong I was! I used to feel lonely and guilty on most times I went to watch the World Cup matches at a restaurant near my hometown. (Whoever said you can feel lonely in a crowd was on point.) And when Brazil lost to the Netherlands in the quarter-finals of that year, I didn't feel as heartsick as I had in 2006, probably because it made me realize I wasn't the only one who faces hard times in life.

I also took an interest in the 2014 World Cup and rooted for Brazil as usual. So strongly did I root for Brazil that I would at times get horribly nervous when watching Brazil play. Imagine I got so nervous during one match that I had to stop watching it and instead preferred to hear of match results later on. And I was a bit disappointed when Brazil lost heavily to Germany in the semi-finals. They lost 1-7, if my memory serves me well.

As for this year's World Cup, it has taken place at a time when I am beginning to feel in control of my life. I am still rooting for Brazil as I did when I first followed the World Cup in 2006. And I am delighted that they hammered Mexico 2-0 in a round of 16 match held today in the evening.

Now that I have professed my fascination with FIFA World Cups, I believe the next one in 2022 will take place when I will be married and in my own home, God willing. How about you? What do you envision to have achieved by 2022 World Cup in Qatar?

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RECOMMENDATION: If you've enjoyed the above story on the team I am rooting for in this year's World Cup, you might also enjoy another one on "Scoring in Life" which I wrote sometime back. Just click on that link in blue to jump straight into the story.