Football lovers gather at restaurants

LAHORE: Hotels and coffee shop owners scrambled to arrange for larger-screen television sets in order to keep customers from leaving.

Many small tea shops and restaurants also remained open late over the weekend. “Most matches start after 7pm which is time for dinner,” said Fayyaz Iftikhar, a restaurant manager in Garden Town. “Last night, we witnessed a surge in customers as they enjoyed the match with dinner,” he went on to say. Television sets were also seen at cigarette and paan shops. However, one paan shop ownertold The Express Tribune that more customers were interested in staying during a cricket match. “Not that many are that interested in football,” he said. “However, the enthusiasm peaks as the tournament nears its end. That is the time when customers are really keen on staying back,” he stated, adding, “I’ve set up a TV already.” The World Cup season has also witnessed an increase in betting, said another restaurant owner Zahid.

“Most customers stay and watch the match. Nervousness heightens as the match nears its conclusion. Enthralled customers start betting for whichever team they are supporting,” he stated, claiming to have witnessed two since the beginning of Fifa World Cup 2010.

A bookie, seeking anonymity, said that more Lahoris liked to bet on a cricket matches compared to football. “For football, you have to wait until the end of the game. Whereas, in cricket, they can review their strategies after every over,” he reasoned.

Published in the Express Tribune, June 14^th, 2010.