No Russia, but 'ball pooja' and customised jerseys define World Cup for Seiko Watch India President

What’s the next best thing to watching the football World Cup live in Russia? Watching the games with gusto with a group of like-minded football fans. That’s what Seiko Watch India President Niladri Mazumder has been doing, as the action in Russia heats up.

And when it comes to sport, superstitions must follow and Mazumder and his friends honoured theirs with a ‘ball pooja’ on the first day of the World Cup. The group’s fandom goes beyond spiritual exercises — they have customised jerseys made of their favourite teams and also a catchy name for their group. During the 2014 World Cup, they called themselves the ‘Bong Brazucas’.

This year, it is ‘Foodbong FC’ and Mazumder explains why. “Being a primarily Bong [Bengali] group consisting of food lovers, the great food every host serves up during the match days is an added attraction,” says Mazumder. “We watch all the World Cup games together and bring Russia’s atmosphere home".