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Life turns to a goal

Football mania has officially hit the city with a series of events lined up, writes RENUKA VIJAY KUMAR

CUP OF LIFE Soccer is set to change lifestyles for over a month come June 6

If you're already sulking about the fact that you can't watch Ronaldinho and Rooney live in Germany this June, then you're probably in the wrong part of the country. Come to Hyderabad and you'll see the FIFA World Cup fever that is edging its way into the city. The city is warming up to World Cup festivities and the list of activities will keep any sports buff worth his sports gear beaming through the season. From special menus, competitions with huge prizes in tow, merchandise with your movie tickets, events like dressing like your favourite player or team to free alcohol in some instances, the month of June promises football frenzy at its peak.

Silas Kapadia, General Manager Prasads plans to keep football-loving moviegoers happy by selling and auctioning merchandise. "Exact copies of jerseys and even footballs, will be given to people coming to watch movies at Prasads," he says.

A shoe store has also decided to cash in on FIFA and is promising its customers merchandise, gift vouchers and other freebies. At Lifestyle building, the action begins today with a gaming centre on soccer-based games. Coke has tied up with 12 fine dining restaurants like Waterfront, Little Italy and Carrots and each resto has been assigned one soccer nation. Food and entertainment based on the country and the FIFA theme will be the highlight at these places. Clients at associated dining outlets and pubs will be given a euro that they can use to play at these gaming stations. A representative of Coke says that a ticket to the quarterfinals in Germany will be auctioned at Prasads and merchandise will be given out via lucky draws at Eat Street as well.

Bottles and Chimney plans to have a special menu and will host competitions and games between matches. Varun Chaddha, acting manager of B&C says they be also be screening the matches with the help of their huge overhead projector. Vinod Reddy, partner 10 Downing Street is upbeat about the World Cup. In addition to their existing big screen, the pub plans to put up a few more screens and plasma TVs all over the place. The place will be decorated with football paraphernalia and people will be encouraged to dress in the colours of their favourite team. "Competitions and loads of prizes are being planned as well. But the problem at the moment seems to be about the timings of the matches."

It's only 15 days to go before the games begin. So whether you decide to catch the matches live at your favourite place or participate in football related activities, you have just as many (or few) days to choose how you want to indulge the football fan in you.

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