The followers of the game of football in India might be a little less in numbers as compared to Cricket but when you encounter one, you know that their passion and love for the game is REAL and our guest for today is no different.
Meet Saad Rashid, a 27 year old football or more particularly Manchester United aficionado from Mumbai who has also had the privilege of meeting some of the biggest stars in sporting history.
Let's find out more about him and his love for football and the English football heavyweights Manchester United.
Which is your favourite football team?
I have been a supporter of Manchester United since 2002, which was when I was nine years old. It’s been a long journey since then with many ups and downs (especially since Sir Alex Ferguson has retired). Manchester United is a part of my life, I have memorabilia all around my room and it all started because of David Beckham. Unfortunately he left Manchester United soon after I started supporting them, but my passion for the football club only grew with every passing year.
What makes the club you support different from others?
Manchester United is a romantic club. It has a rich history of producing world class players but also about how to overcome adversity and the challenges life throws at you. On 6th February 1958, the Manchester United team was returning from a European fixture after defeating Red Star Belgrade. The plane they were travelling in twice aborted their take-off because of boost surging in the left engine, and crashed in the third attempt due to slush at the end of the runway. 21 people were killed including 7 Manchester United players but there were many heroes such as goalkeeper Harry Gregg who not only survived the crash but saved lives by helping those stuck in the debris. They bounced back 10 years later to win the European Cup through resilience, hard work and a winning mentality.
What's your favourite memory of the team?
Since I started supporting Manchester United in 2002, my favourite memory is the Champions League final in Moscow, 2008 when they faced Chelsea. It was a nerve wracking final which ended in Van Der Sar saving a penalty from Nicholas Anelka to secure Manchester United’s third champions league trophy. It was a dominant season and one of the best teams I have ever seen, with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring 42 goals in all competitions.
Who is your favourite player and why?
My favourite player is Wayne Rooney. I have watched him ever since he arrived at Manchester United as one of the hottest prospects in football. He scored a hattrick on his debut in the Champions League against Fenerbahce and has become the highest scorer in the history of the club with 253 goals in 559 appearances. He is a selfless player with incredible technique, vision and passion. He plays with his heart on his sleeve and is a winner.
How do you react to your team's loss?
When Sir Alex Ferguson was the manager, the losses were few and far between and in the event Manchester United did lose I knew it was not the end of the world because the club would still be right up there at the top of the table competing for major honours. Since his retirement, Manchester United fans around the world have been forced to manage expectations and it has reached a point where I have become accustomed to bad results, so I don’t react too strongly to them anymore.
What’s your biggest fanboy moment?
I have been fortunate enough to meet many professional footballers, but my biggest fanboy moment was bumping into Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima at a sports store in Dubai. It was my first encounter with a professional footballer, but I couldn’t let the opportunity pass. I asked him to sign a player issue Brazil jersey that I bought at the store and he very kindly obliged. It was a moment I will never forget because he is one of the greatest players in history. I have the signed jersey framed in my room.
