Rosogolla, jhalmuri, colonial architecture and love for English sports.
Calcutta works for Sol Campbell, former England defender and Premier League star and the international event ambassador of Tata Steel World 25K Kolkata, partnered by The Telegraph.
“English architecture” and “love for cricket and football” are the two things about Calcutta that impress Campbell the most. It is his second visit to the city. His first was during the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in 2017. England lifted the cup.
Campbell landed in Calcutta on Wednesday night and by the next afternoon, had gobbled rosogolla and jhalmuri. “I quite liked them,” he told The Telegraph at a star hotel near Raj Bhavan.
Asked about eastern India’s marquee race, to be held on Sunday, Campbell said: “The main thing is participation, not only mentally but physically as well. It transfers to your lifestyle. It is a movement. Encourage another person. That is how it multiplies. It is a good healthy way of looking at life. There is competitiveness, obviously. There are some serious runners. It feels great to be a part of this movement.”
In his five years, and 195 appearances, at Arsenal, he won two Premier League winners medals and three FA Cup winners medals, encompassing the 2001-02 league and FA Cup double, and was part of the team that became known as “The Invincibles” for their undefeated 2003-04 Premier League campaign.
He scored Arsenal’s only goal in their 2-1 defeat to Barcelona in the 2006 UEFA Champions League final.
The loss to Argentina in the 1998 World Cup match, where a goal scored by him was disallowed, still hurts Campbell. “With VAR (video assistant referee), that goal would have stood,” he said.
Asked about the fastest runner in the “The Invincibles” squad, Campbell replied promptly: “I was”.
His message for the participants on Sunday: “Enjoy. Get out there. Have some fun.”