By Morgan Ofori, Sam Rucker, Rebecca Robinson
Tension may be mounting ahead of England’s crucial ‘battle of the isles’ match with Wales tonight, but the ‘battle of the isles’ in not the only game to watch in town.
Across this multicultural capital, there are 50 different communities and 37 per cent of Londoners were not born in the UK, many of whose home countries are represented in the competition.
As the tournament enters the second week with crunch matches coming thick and fast their passionate supporters are thronging pubs and bars, cafes and restaurant that serve their communities, many appropriately decked out in their flags and other symbols. Eastlondonlines went out and about to speak to some of these fans.
At Ghanaian restaurant Gold Coast in South Norwood, manager Winifred Kojovi, 53, said having Ghana in the World Cup, “unites not only Ghanaians but all Africans. When Ghana is playing, we expect to have a busy and exciting night. People come from not only Croydon but also from outside London.”
Kojovi who lives in Catford said that while it is good for business, it can impact the surrounding area: “The police close the local off-licences, while the match is playing because the roads become very busy. We had a few drunken disturbances during Ghana’s last world cup campaign [in 2014].”
Ghana supporter Prince Asamoah, 31, a healthcare assistant who lives in Mitcham, said the national team is the pride and joy of every Ghanaian: “We just want to rally and support it.” Asamoah said there was little different between preparing for matches in the UK and back home in: “When we were growing up, everyone would go to church, and we would pray for the national team. It is the same here.”
He has one burning wish and that is “to absolutely take revenge against Uruguay and Luis Suarez. We can get to the semi-finals.”
His friend, Dinah Kay an 18-year-old of Jamaican heritage who also supports Ghana, believes that “the World Cup brings this common purpose that’s quite light-hearted and enjoyable. I think friendship and company is so important, when you are watching a match, and adds a new dimension to the experience. Kay an estate agent from Battersea added: “I’m Jamaican but I root for my Ghanaians, I usually just grab a snack and a drink and hope for the best during the matches.”
In Hackney, Uruguayans Washington Ortuno, 26, and Esteban Tejera, 28, run Chicha Bakery – an Argentinian street food café. They said people love to gather in big groups to watch every “La Celeste” game, the nickname for the national team.
They spoke of the connection between life as a Uruguayan and the football they watch their team play: “We play as we live. With courage, commitment, and sacrifice.”
Ortuno and Tejera said they did not feel part of the British community but were “very passionate about supporting Uruguay from so far [away]”.
Their pre-match rituals included eating ‘chivito uruguayo’ – a roll containing beef, cheese, eggs and the national sandwich of Uruguay – for breakfast every match day, followed by drinking “all day long.” “Minutes before the game we hug each other and pray for the best, or at least to get one point out of every game.”
Mexican photographer 21-year-old Sujey Singh living in Tower Hamlets said that the World Cup was a “really big thing in Mexico”: “Football has been our country’s sport since the World Cup was held in Mexico in 1968.”
“In Mexican society, compared to Great Britain, it is a lot more exciting. It’s as though it is everybody’s birthday… Here in the UK, it is simpler, everyone just drinks beer and sits together. In Mexico, if we win, everyone goes out on the street with their shirts and the flag and people everywhere scream and celebrate. It feels like an earthquake.”
Yoobin Lee, a 22-year-old South Korean sculptor, watched the South Korean match with Uruguay World Cup in Cameroon Bar in Tower Hamlets: “I like watching the World Cup with other Koreans. It is nice because usually, I am not able to speak in Korean in England, so when I am with other Koreans, we can just speak a lot more fluently with one another and enjoy supporting our country.”
She added: “In South Korea, especially in 2002, the World Cup is famous. And every citizen gets into the World Cup. Even now, people talk about 2002 and how we got into the quarter final.”
“There was a Korean playing named Son Heung-Min. Sometimes on YouTube, we’ll watch Son play and look at how English fans in the stadium are. They are so passionate about football! They seem very proud of it.”
Wallace Theodore, 46, an assistant at greengrocers Shop Brazil in Lewisham says the World Cup is like a “national holiday back at home.” He feels Brazil can win the World cup for the first time since 2002, and back up their status as the most successful side in the tournament’s history with a 6th title overall. He added: “Neymar is my favourite player and he can help us to do it.”
Theodore who lives in Willesden and travels to Lewisham to work, has watched both Brazil games: “The first one was in a Brazilian bar in Stockwell, and the second one was on my phone! I have to work a lot! But I must watch my country!”
