“Se grande problemo.”
Lionel Messi uttered the phrase on way to his room after having lunch on the ground floor at the Ruposhi Bangla Hotel yesterday as the enthusiastic fans, photographers and cameramen gathered to capture his photo whenever he is seen in the lobby.
The sensational Messi’s conversation with his teammates was interpreted by a police officer who knows Spanish through experiencing at UN peace missions. The police officer of Ramna Police Station, preferred not be named, explained the meaning of “Se grande problemo” stands “it’s a big problem”.
Though not a word was heard from the great man so far, the single exasperated sentence was caught by this reporter yesterday.
Nevertheless all focus is on the two-time world player of the year though there are a lot of stars like Sergio Agüero, Angel di Maria, Martin Demichelis, Javier Mascherano and Ganzalo Higuain in the Argentina team but all of them are now overshadowed here by the presence of the magical Barcelona striker who himself expressed his irritation by the Spanish language though it is not understandable to see his always smiling face.
However, there were less fans from outside yesterday compared to Monday’s rush but some had checked in at the hotel to catch a glimpse and were trying to take photo with any Argentinean players, especially Messi.
In one incident, a security personnel challenged a youth who impeded Messi & Co but the UK-based Bangladeshi was identified as a boarder of the Ruposhi Bangla.
After having practiced on Monday evening at the Bangabandhu National Stadium, all members of the Argentina squad were confined to the hotel though they twice came down to the ground floor to have breakfast and lunch before heading to the BNS to play their friendly match against Nigeria yesterday.
“I accompanied many cricket teams like Pakistan, South Africa and Sri Lanka at this hotel but Argentina team is totally different. In the last two days, I have seen from close range that the players do three things practicing, eating and sleeping,” said a Ruposhi Bangla official.
Some of the players were seen visiting the souvenir shops at the hotel while Messi paid a visit to the CD shop though none of them bought anything but it was learned from the shop attendants that Argentinean booters desired to buy some souvenirs from the shop on the way back home.
Liaison officer Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury informed Messi did not have breakfast but had lunch as the players were given choice to have breakfast from 8:30am to 10:30am and the lunch time was fixed at 12:00pm at Vintage Restaurant of Ruposhi Bangla.
The former national booter informed Messi skipped the breakfast and had only lunch but all payers had tea at 4:00pm.
Though the players were confined to the hotel, the coaching staffs including head coach Alejandro Sabella inspected the venue and dressing room and almost spent an hour and half as they couldn’t do so on Monday.
On way to the BNS, the Argentina team were greeted by the crowds standing on both sides of the road. After playing the friendly match, Argentina team is scheduled to leave Bangladesh in the early hours of today.
Courtesy of The Daily Star
