(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) It has been a recentphenomenon. I tend to wake up with a jolt. My mind is in a cold panic. Did I oversleep? What time is it? Am I too late? Did I sleep through Liverpool's biggest game in the last 11 years – the UEFA Champions League final in Kiev, Ukraine. And then I realise, the summit clash against defendingchampion, Real Madrid, doesn't even kick off tillthis Saturdaynight at10.45pm.
Since the last game of the English Premier League on May 13, there has been a gradual building of tension among Liverpool fans in Oman, and around the world. Some fans have even expressed theirinability to sleep. With two weeks to wait for the Kiev final, there has been plenty of time, far too much time, to ponder over the clash of two of the biggest clubs in the world – Liverpool and Real Madrid.
According to an estimate, there are around 300mnLiverpool fans around the world. They vary from a casual fan, who when asked toexpress a preference will choose Liverpool, to the real fanatic, who will travel to every home and away game,domestic or international, competitive or friendly, for over 40 years.
Liverpool started to build up a dedicated international fan base during the height of The Beatles and the swinging 60's, and it only increased during the 1970s when Liverpool grew into the best club inEurope. Among the fansincluded people as diverse as Nelson Mandela and James Bond actor Daniel Craig, and, possibly thanks to the Champions League title-winning heroics at Istanbul 13 years ago, it has drawn new fans, from stars such as SamuelL Jackson to Dr Dre, and Anglie Jolie to Pope John Paul II.The Champions League final is the most watchedannual sporting event worldwide. The 2012-13 final had the highest TV ratings to date, drawing 360mn television viewers when Bayern Munich beat Borussia Dortmund.
But, comethis Saturday, broadcaster projectionsestimate that this final will be the most watched club football game ever, with estimates of 400mn. Only the FIFA World Cup final matches have more viewers, and the extra high numbers will be down to the participation of Liverpool, and Real Madrid, one of the few clubs with an even stronger brand and bigger global following than Liverpool.With estimated fan-bases of 300mn and 450mn respectively, it is going to be a highly anticipated match.And at least 200 fans of the Official Liverpool Supporters Club (OLSC) Oman, popularly known as @OmanReds, will be watching the game together at the Grand Hyatt Muscat.Initially the fan cluborganised a private event for 100 fans, but such has been the interest that it had to move venue and double the guest list. But despite the demand to watch the game with @OmanReds, at least two of its members will fly down to Kiev to watch the final carrying along with a few of OLSCOman banners. Hope they turn out to be lucky mascots!
Nabil al Busaidi
(The author is the chairman andfounder of OLSC Oman. The views andopinions expressed in this article aresolely those of the author and do notnecessarily represent those of Muscat
Daily or Apex Press & Publishing)
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