Corner shops bring different vibe for World Cup matches

While football fans across the island remain glued to the nearest screen during World Cup season, with bars and favourite chill spots increasingly turning into viewing venues, the story of Old Harbour shop owner Asburn Stoners' corner shop is what he described as “likkle improvement”. 

During the last World Cup, customers at Asburn Stoners’ Old Harbour shop clustered around a seven-inch tablet, propped on a table, straining to catch the action. 

This year, however, Stoners says the upgrade to a 40-inch television has transformed the viewing experience. 

“The people dem love it,” he beamed. With his TV now mounted at the side of his shop, customers, according to Osburne “nuh have to hitch up and see. Everybody just easy back”. “More people, more eyes out and the little tablet wasn't working out with everybody so mi get something more higher,” he said. When the news team visited, his shop on Walkers Road, a match had just ended, and the crowd was beginning to scatter. However, Stoners explained that the atmosphere changes for the later games.

“In the nights now everybody just come. All like during Argentina match, the vibes out here, the place pack,” he emphasised.

Looking at the screen Stoner added,  “Mi get it roughly a month before World Cup start and the vibes is great. Mi nuh have no drink deals or anything but the vibes is nice and bringing people together.”

Among those enjoying the upgraded setup was Crystal, who declared she was among the patrons who once fought for a glimpse of the action on the tiny tablet.

“All a we hitch up, the tablet hook up to a little speaker and a we that,” she said.

But this time, seated comfortably on a wooden bench and reclined against the wall just feet away from the screen, Crystal nodded happily, seemingly satisfied with the new arrangement.

“You see how the trees cool and the place clean. This is one of the biggest vibes in the community right on Walkers Road. And is we encourage him and say you have to get a TV fi this so this buy just for World Cup.”

Crystal painted a picture of loud fans cheering on their teams, with even persons who know nothing about football joining in.

“Just because a World Cup them actually a talk and engage. We have we rum and just hold a vibes. It pull people man,” she explained.

As an Argentina supporter, she used the June 16 match between that country and Algeria to paint a picture of the atmosphere.

“You see that match? Woahh, wow wow, a pure shot a buss man. A one [Lionel] Messi, enuh, and them couldn’t stop that three goal,” she said excitedly.

Argentine supporters like Crystal and Stoners were in a frenzy as Messi scored his first World Cup hat-trick. June 16 already held significance for the football icon, as it marked exactly 20 years since he scored his first World Cup goal at the 2006 tournament in Germany.

Crystal continued, “A night time when everybody come from work and bathe off and thing, just to know TV is right here, we just a come out to watch man.”

Another resident agreed that corner shops such as Stoners' offer a different kind of World Cup experience.

“You can't stay inside for this, out here with everybody is the vibe because everybody deh one place a talk. [It’s a] nice get-together with friends man,” he said.

But Stoners' shop is far from unique. As the news team journeyed throughout St Catherine, several bars and corner shops were observed with televisions mounted on walls or propped on tables, with customers attentively watching the matches while sipping their favourite drinks.

In Browns Hall, one bar appeared quiet until cries of “Almost goal” sent several rushing from the roadway toward the screen, as they watched the clash between Portugal and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Browns Hall resident Junior Morgan said World Cup season has a way of bringing people together, adding that while most households have televisions, the atmosphere is simply better outside.

“I am going to one near the police station right now but the World Cup don’t watch inside house,” he said laughing.