Football fans – you know, the real ones – want to know, where are all of you bandwagonists the rest of the year when football is apparently still being played (or so I hear)? But, in our defense, I’ll say that watching the World Cup has little to do with a love of the sport and more to do with joining in a global zeitgeist although one can’t but help appreciate some gorgeous goals while watching. It’s like calling loved ones “bae” or posting “Flashback Friday” photos on social media – everyone’s doing it, so why can’t we? It’s also a matter of belonging, of sharing a group identity. While Iranians and Japanese may have felt a sudden uptick in patriotism and love for football during the World Cup, Guyanese had no dog in the race so we just felt a sudden and intense interest in the sport. We adopted other countries’ teams and, in that way, were invited into larger group identities.
A sense of belonging is a powerful thing. No matter how arbitrarily decided on or short lived the commitment, merely stating one’s support (and perhaps some standing in the hot sun) is small effort for the reward of group acceptance on a global scale.
It is no surprise, therefore, that Guyanese were watching the finals in droves.
This was the scene at Stabroek Market:
And the scene at the Marriott Beach Front:
Photos: Newsroom
In this country many Frenchmen have never heard of, there was a clear bias for Team France in the finals.
It was an easy affiliation what with France being a very strong team and somewhat of a footprint in Guyana.
Before the Brits had fully laid claim to El Dorado, before Georgetown was Georgetown, the French enjoyed a brief two year stint ruling Guyana and creating the capital La Nouvelle Ville later renamed Longchamps. That’s right – at one point, the capital of Guyana was called Longchamps.
Close but not quite
Although their time here was brief, they managed to leave their language on a few other places such as Chateau Margot, Sans Souci, Mon Repos, La Jalousie, Le Ressouvenir, Port Mourant, Plaisance and La Bonne Intention.
And for two hours last Sunday, the French brought many Guyanese together across ethnicity, class and belief systems.
Congratulations to the French team! Both on winning their second cup and on being a model of aspirational diversity.
Maybe sport is the way to achieve national unity of some sort. Of course, we would have to invest a bit more in it first. Over several years. And there is the matter of what to do after the game, particularly if there’s a loss on the home side. It is quite expensive for a few hours’ worth of camaraderie and inclusivity.
Oh well, back to the drawing board and not watching football.
seeking el dorado 
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