But then die-hard fans at times can be weird too and Patra has that weird streak in him
Lionel Messi's fan, Patra's house in North 24 Parganas. Pics/PTI
Shib Shankar Patra, 53, is one among thousands of die-hard Argentina fans in Kolkata and there's nothing unusual about it. But then die-hard fans at times can be weird too and Patra has that weird streak in him. Trying to garner enough savings from his modest earnings through a tea stall, Patra harboured a dream - to watch 'The Albiceleste' live from the stands in Russia.
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Lionel Messi's fan, Patra's house in North 24 Parganas. Pics/PTI
But when a Kolkata-based travel agent informed him that his savings - a princely amount of Rs 60,000 (USD 900) is not enough to fund his World Cup trip (travel agent gave him a budget of Rs 1.5 lakh), he decided the next best thing - paint his entire three-storied building in Argentina colours.
"I don't smoke or drink. I have only one addiction and that is Lionel Messi and Argentina. I don't earn much but ensure that bulk of my earnings is kept aside for these indulgences when World Cup comes calling," said Patra, owner of a tea and snack stall in North 24 Parganas' Nawabganj township.
Also read: FIFA World Cup 2018: Sourav Ganguly looking forward to Messi magic
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