Two groups of professionals from the city will fly to Brazil for the FIFA World Cup
With just three days for the FIFA World Cup to kick off, football fever is at its peak in the city.
At least 2,500 football fans from India are going to Brazil. Two 'groups' of Punekars, whom dna spoke to, said they just can't wait to enter the stadiums and watch the action.
Calling it a dream of a lifetime, Rahul Mutha is thrilled about going to Brazil to see a quarter-final match of this sports exravaganza. "This is the first time that I will be going to watch a World Cup match at the stadium. For me, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. I will be leaving on June 30 as I have arranged the tickets for July 4 and July 8 matches. I did not face any problem during the whole process of getting the tickets," said Mutha, a businessman.
The groups brought their tickets from FIFA-deployed agents from Mumbai and Bengaluru.
Mutha, who wants Germany to win the title, will be travelling with his three friends — Deepak Metha, Sanjay Jain and Ketan Patil — for the World Cup. Being a football player himself, Mutha has represented his school and college in various tournaments.
City proprietor Yogesh Natu failed to get a ticket for a Brazil match. So, going by the saying that something is better than nothing, Natu will be watching a clash between Spain and Chile on June 19.
"I booked the tickets for two games. The second match that I will see is between Netherlands and Chile," informed Natu. A die-hard fan of the host team, Natu is praying that this year Brazil should kiss the trophy.
"We had already planned that we have to make to the World Cup this time. And now that it is happening, my happiness knows no bounds," he added.
Natu will be travelling with four of his friends — Swapnil Raut, Suyog Patil, Kiran Bhagia and Vikrant Indulkar.
While the fans are all set for a jamboree, only time will decide which team will lift the trophy.
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