Tanya Lee | Football crazy Jamaica!

Weeks ago, I had a discussion in office about the FIFA World Cup and I was shocked by the pronouncements of two of my colleagues. The goodly gentlemen, both huge fans of football, said that with the popularity of the Champions League, the FIFA World Cup had lost its relevance.

Another co-worker raised his hand in complete disapproval and shared that football starts when the World Cup starts and they will eat their words. Well, eat their words they have!

Some of what I've seen since the start of the World Cup is just pure unadulterated passion for the beautiful game, and by men, women and children. The loudest, proudest and most 'patriotic' of supporters are out in these Kingston streets emblazoned in the colours of jerseys and flags for countries they've never been to. I'm one of them, as I drive around with my Brazil flag, tooting my horn to every 'Brazilian' I pass on the road, even though many of us have likely never been to Brazil.

The FIFA World Cup has brought out the best and the worst of all of us and is proof that football, and the passion for the sport, is alive and well in Jamaica as we can see from the videos from homes, churches, shops, garages and, as usual, over the bar counters.

CHURCH IN ON FUN

The church, of course, is also in on the fun. Much to my amusement, I saw a video of gospel singer and Pastor Ryan Mark holding a Mezut Ozil Germany jersey on the pulpit. While beating the jersey dramatically with one hand, he beckoned, "all me a ask you fah, a two goals from outta the left foot". The congregation nodded and raised their hands and voices in approval. It was hilarious. Mind you, Ozil didn't score once and Germany have crashed out of the World Cup.

But the church jokes don't stop there. The now famous video of Pastor Jennings "ushering" Mr Vegas out is now the most popular meme being used for every missed penalty and fallen team in the group stages.

There was one community who was so excited by Brazil's win that they all departed from their houses in droves, waving their Brazil flags and blowing their whistles in jubilation. A sea of them. In broad daylight. During work hours! Jamaica has turned into Rio!

In another video, one lady famously stands behind a bar counter admonishing Lionel Messi and counting the virtues of Cristiano Ronaldo, all with so much energy and excitement that she failed to realise she was half-clothed on that occasion.

Another community set up a crime scene after Argentina's loss to Croatia. It was complete with a scene seemingly out of CSI with caution tape, a body sketch of Messi, three stones representing bullet wounds and investigators taking notes from the scene. Messi would have been horrified had he seen it!

But sports brings out the passion in all of us. Most passionate of all was the clip of a German fan in complete tears in what appears to be his living room, completely beside himself with grief at Germany's loss. He spent much of the video crying and professing his undying love for Germany, his "one team" while spewing venom at the waggonists and haters who "know nothing about football". I guess that's his way of coping.

So it's safe to say nothing compares to the World Cup. Not the Champions League, not the NBA, not even the Olympic Games. And for a country that hasn't done well for quite some time on the football stage, Jamaica is certainly football crazy every four years or so! One love!

- Tanya Lee is a marketer, author and sports publicist.