A Very Public Private Man: You Don't Visit The Camp Nou, You Make A Pilgrimage!

"Som la gent blaugrana" - El Cant Del Barca.

Every footballer's dream!

by Kudakwashe Kanhutu, Palau Blaugrana, 13 February & 14 February 2016.

“Tot el camp /és un clam / som la gent blaugrana / Tant se val d'on venim / si del sud o del nord / ara estem d'acord, ara estem d'acord, una bandera ens agermana. Blaugrana al vent un crit valent tenim un nom el sap tothom: Barça, Barça, Baaarça!” - El Cant Del Barça.

“The whole stadium / loudly cheers / We’re the blue and claret supporters / It matters not where we hail from / Whether it's the south or the north / Now we all agree, we all agree, One flag unites us in brotherhood. Blue and claret blowing in the wind / One valiant cry / We’ve got a name that everyone knows: Barça, Barça, Baaarça!” – Barca Anthem.

We are the blue and claret people!

A Pilgrimage To The Home Of Football:

What made my trip to Barcelona the stuff of legend, was being there, in the Camp Nou, in person, when the genius that is Lionel Messi found yet another loophole in the football rule book! I am talking about that passed penalty to Luis Suarez in the game against Celta de Vigo on 14th February 2016. Yes, I was there! But we are getting way ahead of our story, let’s start from the beginning, shall we?

It’s a well-known fact that I am Zimbabwe’s Number 1 (pregnant pause) supporter of Deportivo La Coruna. I have followed the Spanish style of play since back in the day, in Zimbabwe, as I have always found La Liga more appealing than the kick and run football that is typical of the English game. But for all my love for Deportivo la Coruna, I am, where Barcelona is concerned, exactly what Jose Mourinho called Arsene Wenger not so long ago – a voyeur! If I wasn’t the Chairman of the Zimbabwe Deportivo La Coruna Supporters Club, I would be asking you, right now, dear reader, to keep it in the strictest confidence that I find Barcelona’s style of play so easy on the eye, so captivating and magical.

It is for this reason that I said to My Genius (noun) in Barcelona, “when I come over, it would be a dream come true if I could watch Barcelona play.” And that’s all I needed to say to her. I got a full tour of the Camp Nou on Saturday 13th February – the trophy cabinets, museum, changing rooms, media area, the tunnel, pitch side, the stands and press commentary boxes. Sunday 14th February 2016 was the day my trip to Barcelona became legendary, because then she took me to that game vs Celta Vigo I began telling you about in the first paragraph of this blog entry. In that game, it’s like the whole FC Barcelona team knew that someone has been travelling – from Zimbabwe no less – for the past decade to watch just this game. They did not disappoint! 6 magical goals to Celta Vigo’s hard earned 1 was the final tally. The fans also put on a good show; a continuous Mexican wave, the Barca Anthem, Independencia chants, you name it!

Usually when I write about my trips I like to give you the facts and figures (i.e. costs), so that you can also plan your own visit, but with regards my pilgrimage to the Camp Nou, I am at a loss. My Genius (noun) in Barcelona planned it all, all I did was show up!