Football is known as the beautiful game. But in our country, it has often been overshadowed by other sports in the past. A decade ago, one would find most Indians playing Cricket or a different sport. However, there has been an increasing interest in the past few years, with club football and communities growing in popularity.
For most Indians who aren’t familiar with the sport, it might have been challenging to understand certain rules of the game. And if they’ve not followed the game in the past, it is certainly hard to know about specific clubs and why they attract so much attention.
Now, it’s certainly a long journey for an individual to become a football fan, let alone supporting Manchester City. Incidentally, my introduction to football, and more specifically to Manchester City, was through QNET when I came across their partnership on social media.
In 2014, QNET joined hands with Manchester City as their official Direct Selling partner. Initially, I would follow a few games here and there, but sooner rather than later, I was hooked. Now, I don’t miss even a single match. Here’s my journey of becoming a Manchester City fan! In addition, we’ll also understand more about the global impact of the QNET and Manchester City partnership.
How did I become a Manchester City fan?
The QNET and Manchester City partnership has been strong since 2014. During this time, City has been a class-apart, winning 3 Premier League titles, 4 League Cups, 2 Community shields and 1 FA Cup. But one of the important things that City fans are proud of is the community. City provides a sense of belonging, and it is truly a great feeling to back the team. Like Manchester City, QNET provides a community of entrepreneurs who help us grow our businesses and expand horizons in terms of knowledge.
Watching the first Manchester City game
I remember watching the first few matches and being awestruck by the finesse of Manchester City players. It was in 2017, in Pep Guardiola’s second season in charge, and players had just begun to adapt to his philosophy with some eye-catching football.
The first game I ever saw was Manchester City versus Liverpool on the 9th of September in 2017. I was mesmerised by the simplicity with which Manchester city players were weaving their way through Liverpool’s defensive lines.
The game began with great intensity, and in the 24th minute, City opened the scoring. A slick through ball from Kevin De Bruyne found Aguero, who rounded the Liverpool keeper and passed it into an empty net. It was just the beginning of a special relationship, as I began supporting Manchester City. Sergio Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne would become some of my favourite players.
City doubled the lead right before the half-time through Gabriel Jesus. De Bruyne was on-hand again as his well-timed cross met Jesus, who headed the ball past the goalkeeper. A great start for the Cityzens.
City came back after half-time with the same zeal. Jesus was back on the score sheet, as Sergio Aguero squared the ball to Jesus from a 1-on-1 situation, who scored without making any errors. The scoreline was 3-0; I was taken aback by the dominance of Manchester City, who were playing flawlessly against a title rival.
Manchester City went on to add two more goals through a quick-fire brace from Sane. The fourth goal came in the 77th minute, when Sane stroked the ball past the Liverpool keeper after meeting a low cross from the left flank. The final goal came in the first minute of stoppage time. It was probably the best of the lot, with Sane’s curling effort finding the top corner from over 30 yards away.
A truly mesmerising performance from City players! I instantly became a fan and started following all their games regularly. I was equally delighted to find out that QNET had successfully partnered with City for multiple initiatives, providing opportunities for various people from various communities, and fostering developments and celebrating achievements.
Some of the best Manchester City players
After following Manchester City’s for the past four seasons, I have seen many City players perform mesmerisingly. Now, we can’t add every player as the list would be way too long. So, here are three players who’ve had a massive impact on the club.
Sergio Aguero
Sergio Aguero has been an absolute legend! City’s all-time leading goal scorer has found the back of the net 260 times and provided 73 assists. He is fourth on the list of all-time leading goal scorers in the Premier League with 184 goals.
Aguero has won multiple trophies with City since his arrival in 2011. He is a five-time Premier League winner, and he also won the golden boot award in 2014/15. His most famous moment in the City shirt was the 94th-minute winner against QPR that sealed their first Premier League title. Aguero has certainly carved his name in the City record books and in the hearts of Man City supporters as a true legend.
Kevin De Bruyne
Club Captain Kevin De Bruyne arrived in the summer of 2016 from Wolfsburg, where he was sensational, scoring ten goals and 20 assists in the 2014/15 season. His arrival came with huge expectations, but Kevin De Bruyne had no problem, as he quickly eased into life at City.
De Bruyne became a fan favourite from his very first season. Since then, he has been continuously producing match-winning performances, helping City win 3 Premier League titles, 5 League cups and an FA cup. The assist king had one of the most successful campaigns in the 2019/20 season. He was voted the City Player of the Season, UEFA Midfielder of the Year and the coveted PFA Players’ Player of the Year in 2019/20. A true magician in the mid-field, the maestro continues to inspire and motivate other players as a seasoned veteran.
Raheem Sterling
Perhaps one of the most under-appreciated players is City’s winger, Raheem Sterling. He is an absolute class act and a very talented player. The skilful winger has an eye for the goal, scoring 69 goals and providing 65 assists.
Sterling has won three Premier League titles, five Carabao Cups, an FA Cup and the Community Shield. Raheem Sterling’s best season came in the 2019/20 season, scoring 20 goals in the league in 33 appearances. Sterling is a sensational footballer as he continues to provide game-changing performances for City!
These were some of the best players that I have had the pleasure of watching every week and helping City win multiple titles. However, football is more than just kicking the ball with the QNET-City partnership, inspiring individuals globally and creating a social impact beyond the pitch.
The QNET and Manchester City Partnership
When QNET joined hands with Manchester City, I did not realise the amazing synergy that was about to take place. It was one of the most anticipated partnerships. Since then, the collaboration has yielded multiple initiatives empowering thousands of individuals across the globe.
In 2017, Manchester City conducted a football clinic in Indonesia in collaboration with QNET. The workshop aimed at educating underprivileged youth from the ‘Rusun’ (community flats). The coaches from the City Football School trained the youth on how to play like a ‘City player’ with various football techniques and drills.
In 2018, QNET further extended the partnership by becoming the first sleeve partner of the Manchester City Women’s Football Team. It was a great way to commemorate 20 years in the direct selling business and an important step to showcase their commitment to providing women with the same opportunities as men.
To further celebrate a successful partnership, QNET-City provided 20 underprivileged children a lifetime opportunity to attend a two-week-long camp at the City Football Language School. The children received curated English lessons and training from the Manchester City coaches.
In 2019, QNET extended the partnership with Manchester City for five more years. The partnership was a commitment to empower more communities and provide opportunities to more individuals through City-led football clinics and more innovative initiatives.
A proud Manchester City Fan
Manchester City has been phenomenal in the past few seasons, winning 3 Premier League titles in the last four years. They have won the League Cup consecutively in the last four years. Moreover, they reached the Champions League to record their best finish to date. City has broken multiple records, including the record for most Premier League wins in a season, most consecutive wins and the most goals scored in a calendar year.
Over the years, my admiration for the club has grown more and more as I watch City grow with leaps and bounds. The QNET and Manchester City partnership further provided many of us with an opportunity to understand the importance of synergy and creating a difference on the global front.
Manchester City is one of the biggest clubs in the world, and I am proud to call myself a Manchester City fan. City has made a great start in the 2021/22 season, and I am backing them to win many more titles and provide more amazing performances. It’s Manchester City all the way. Manchester City, let’s go!!
Read more: QNET Series – Lessons for an Aspiring Direct Selling Professional
