Guwahati: North-east India has long been one of India's footballing hotbeds and the excitement here in the city ahead of Indian Super League's first match shows that in full light.
The supporters can be seen flaunting their favourite team jerseys and singing the team's anthem outside the stadium as the excitement in anticipation of a football game hits an all-time high here, and if the Box Office reports are to be believed, it's expected to be a full house when the match kicks off at 1900 IST today.
The home team, NorthEast United FC, will take on Kerala Blasters FC in what would be a tournament opener for both the teams after a gala opening and Atletico de Kolkata's win on Sunday at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata.
Kids in Assam have tremendous enthusiasm for football and surely it's a wonderful opportunity for football fanatics to connect with local and foreign stars and watch the likes of Joan Capdevila, Miguel Garcia, Sergio Pardo and a number of local lads in action together. The team owned and operated by Bollywood actor John Abraham and I-League club Shillong Lajong will hope that fans come right behind their team and give their 100 per cent support.
"Everybody is waiting for the tournament to start in Guwahati. We have decided that we're going to watch all the home matches in the stadiums and party all night. Football is in our blood", a group of few enthusiastic college students said.
Explaining the ISL fever gripping in Assam and other part of north-eastern city these days, a fan said it's an opportunity to watch some really top-class football and some of legends of the game in action.
Shillong has witnessed a packed house each time Shillong Lajong have played at home, and club owners and players have full belief that NorthEast United FC, who play here at the Indira Gandhi Stadium as their home ground, will also draw the same attraction.
"The crowd in Guwahati will be massive and entire north-east will come together to support the team during the match days", an official at the stadium said.
Amid this excitement, a belief floats that some day they will see India in action at the biggest stage and who knows, with India taking initiative of promoting Indian stars in ISL and later on hosting the under-17 junior World Cup in 2017, many players and kids will come of age which may finally put India on the world football map.
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