Ink And Insight

  ⚽☕ On 5th May 2026, I had the privilege of sharing a meaningful breakfast conversation with Mr. P. N. Sivaji, former coach of the Singapore National Football Team🏆 Our discussion extended far beyond football. It became an engaging exchange about passion, leadership, history, and the lasting stories we leave behind for future generations 📖✨. Mr. Sivaji’s decades-long contribution to Singapore football reflects extraordinary dedication, experience, and vision. I also shared insights from my recently published book, The Whispering World Cup Ball 📚⚽—a journey through nearly a century of FIFA World Cup history and the spirit of the beautiful game across the world 🌎🏟️ One thoughtful remark from Mr. Sivaji truly stayed with me: 💬 “That is possibly a good angle for a book on soccer.” Sometimes, the most inspiring conversations happen over a simple breakfast. 🤝☀️ With gratitude and warm regards, *Mr. V. Ramakrishnan* Director of Import Export – Singapore Eurasia Afro Chamber of Com...

  From glory to grief, the World Cup reveals what nations dare to dream. Is Hosting the World Cup a Blessing or a Curse?   ·        France hosted the World Cup in 1998 and won it for the first time in their history. A nation united in pure joy. ·        Brazil hosted in 2014. Germany humiliated them seven goals to one in the semi final. On home soil. In front of their own people. A nation traumatised. Two host nations. Two completely different stories. So is hosting the World Cup a blessing or a curse? It depends entirely on who is hosting. Global football divides naturally into three tiers. The superpowers — Brazil, Germany, Italy, Argentina, France and Spain. For these nations hosting carries the heaviest burden. Winning is not just an ambition. It is an expectation. Anything less feels like failure. Brazil proved that painfully. Twice. Then there is the middle group. England, Mexico and the Netherlands....