As Kerala finds itself in the grip of World Cup fever, a football crazy fan from the state has cycled all the way to Russia to watch the tournament and realise his dream of meeting Argentina's living legend Lionel Messi.
Twenty-eight-year-old Clifin Francis was always determined to go to Russia for the World Cup. However, for the freelance mathematics teacher at a coaching school, the cost of travelling to Russia by air and then staying there for a month was proving to be too expensive.
"I realised I wouldn't have enough money to travel to Russia and stay for a month. Then I asked myself – what could be the cheapest way of travelling? Bicycle was the answer," he told BBC News.
With his initial plan to travel through Pakistan did not materialise, Francis flew to Dubai from Kerala on 23 February, bought a cycle, took a ship to the port city of Bandar Abbas in southern Iran, before embarking on his cycling odyssey to Russia.
"I am very happy. It was a four-month-long journey," Francis told PTI from Tambov, a countryside town in Russia, despite the change of plans proving to be a more expensive affair for him.
He said he has bought a ticket for the France-Denmark match on 26 June and was waiting to watch it with his fingers crossed.
Summing up his journey, he said that while both good and bad experiences came his way, he got a chance to meet new people, see new landscapes and new cultures every day.
Of Kebabs, Tea and the Film Connection in Iran
In Iran, Francis celebrated his birthday with the residents of Maymeh, enjoying hot kebas they served with Istak, a local drink – an experience he said he would never forget.
Though living on a shoe-string budget of $10 a day, the Kerala resident said that his experience of travelling through the country was one he would cherish forever.
It’s the most beautiful country in the world and the people are so welcoming. I spent 45 days in the country, but stayed in a hotel only for two days.Clifin Francis to BBC News
The local people there are great fans of Indian filmstars like Raj Kapoor, Amitabh Bachchan and Mithun Chakraborty, while the younger ones especially enquired about Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai, he said.
When I went into a house, the family was watching an old Raj Kapoor-starrer, he added.
Roadblocks
By the time Francis reached Azerbaijan, he had lost so much of weight because of cycling that the authorities had difficulty recognising him from the picture in his passport.
His trip, however, hit a roadblock when he was denied permission to enter Georgia through Azerbaijan, despite him having all his papers, including the visa, in order. This forced him to take an alternative route.
I felt sad at their behaviour as a German cyclist was allowed to take the route. But there were times when I saw the goodness in human beings as people whom I had never met gave me shelter, the warmth of their homes and offered food.Clifin Francis to PTI
Football Always His First Love
For Francis, football had always been the first love and watching the World Cup a long-cherished dream.
After obtaining his B Tech degree, Francis worked at the Infopark at Kakkanad in Kochi for some time, before taking up a job as a mathematics teacher at a coaching school, Saji, his paternal uncle said.
He was always a hard-worker and slogged at the coaching class without taking any leave and saved as much as he could to have his dream fulfilled. Relatives also chipped in (with money).Clifin Francis’ paternal uncle to PTI
Hoping to reach Moscow by 21 June, Francis says it has been his long-cherished dream to meet Messi.
When asked if he would be able to make it come true, he said, "I have reached this far. I am an optimist. My desire is to meet Messi. (I) don't know if it is possible....I am a diehard fan of his."
He is hopeful that India too would better its prospects of playing in the World Cup in the near future.
I want to see India play in the World Cup some day. And that will only happen when more children take up football in India. I am optimistic about our chances in the next 20 years... I would be happy if my journey ends up inspiring even one child to play football in India.Clifin Francis to BBC News
(With inputs from PTI and BBC News)
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