The 'German Stadium' in Diphu. (Inset) Putul Borah
Guwahati, June 7: Every four years, a house in the Police Reserve area of Diphu transforms into something different altogether.
Flags go up, a large screen comes out, and football fans from across the region converge on what its owner has simply named 'German Stadium'.
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup less than a week away, 65-year-old Putul Borah is giving the final touches to what has become a well-known ritual in Diphu.
"I'm so excited and looking forward to June 11. The preparations have been almost completed and I'm just giving the finishing touches," Borah told The Assam Tribune over phone.
A self-confessed German football devotee, Borah named his house and its attached auditorium 'German Stadium' after completing construction in 2018.
Late Gilbertson Sangma, one of Assam's most celebrated footballers, inaugurated it.
Borah has been organising World Cup screenings at his home since 1986. What began as gatherings inside the house expanded in 2006 when he installed a large screen for guests.
"For me, the football World Cup is the biggest festival in my life. I love football and I love the people who love football. My loyalty has always been with the German football team, but all fans of all teams are welcome here," he said.
This year, he has planned an event on the evening of June 11 ahead of the tournament's opening ceremony in Mexico City. The programme at German Stadium will begin at 6 pm and is expected to feature former India international Swadhin Dekaraja as the chief guest, alongside senior citizens and football fans of Diphu.
A four-foot replica of the World Cup trophy will be unveiled on the occasion, preceded by a tribute to late Zubeen Garg. Discussions on football, music, and dance are also on the agenda.
Borah has decorated the premises with football-themed colours and flags of all participating nations.
"I always wait for the World Cup and for the people who visit me - it has become a habit. They start calling at least two months before the tournament begins. For me, it's a great opportunity for bonhomie and brotherhood through the beautiful game," he said.
The buried whisky and a German win
Perhaps the most-told story from German Stadium involves a bottle of Scotch and a 20-year wait.
When Germany lost to Bulgaria 1-2 in the quarterfinals on July 10, 1994, Borah was inconsolable. In an act of mourning, he buried a bottle of Scotch he had brought from Kolkata, vowing to open it only when Germany lifted the trophy.
Twenty years later, they did. When Germany won the 2014 World Cup, Borah and his friends dug out the bottle and finally had their drink.
Come June 11, German Stadium in Diphu will be ready once again.