When the show was taken off air, I don’t remember following any team in particular. But I remember following players like Roberto Baggio who was at Juventus at the time. I also found the Brazilian Bebeto quite skilled on the pitch. He used to play for Deportivo La Coruna. The other players I followed closely were the Dutch twins Frank & Ronald De Boer who were at Ajax. I also enjoyed watching Luis Enrique when he was at Real Madrid. And though I never liked Manchester United from the get go, that never stopped me from following Ryan Giggs.
With Roberto Baggio being my favourite player of all the players I used to follow back then (and still is), I was rooting for Italy during the 1994 World Cup and watching him miss the final penalty pierced my heart. That was the first time I remember feeling heartbroken over a soccer match.
The next time I ever went through emotions over a football match was the day I became an Arsenal fan. I was home watching the 1995 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup Final between the holders Arsenal of England and Real Zaragoza of Spain. I found myself rooting for Arsenal. Those of you who are older enough will remember how dramatic that game ended. With seconds left before the final whistle in extra time and both teams tied at 1-all a player named Nahim, a former Tottenham midfielder scored a spectacular 40-yard volley that sent Arsenal’s goalkeeper David Seaman crushing in the net.
The referee blew the final whistle before Real Zaragoza’s players ended their celebration. I remember watching Ian Wright cry his eyes out and I thought to myself, I want to support a team with players like that.
That match was played on Wednesday May 10, 1995.
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