Reporter's Diary: Football is a ‘sumptuous feast’ for this policeman

Two days ago, this reporter was about to enter the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium to cover a football match when a policeman, who was regulating the traffic and pedestrian crowd outside the stadium, came running towards this scribe. 

After shooting a volley of questions apparently to find out the reporter’s designation, name of the newspaper, and even about the competing teams, the constable, without even battling an eyelid, asked for a couple of complimentary tickets. Surprised that the policeman who did not have any clue about the sport that was being played or the teams that were competing had just abandoned his post to seek tickets for the game from a stranger, this reporter asked him why he needed the tickets so badly. 

“It’s not for me sir. Some of my colleagues wanted to watch the match and more importantly, to savour the food that would be on offer in the hospitality lounge,” he said with a grin. 

With complimentary tickets for any match in so much demand these days, this scribe has now stopped making face to face contact with strangers to avoid requests for VIP passes. Friends and relatives are another matter! — Hari Kishore M, Chennai