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For the love of soccer

Kick a goal and grab prizes from Pavizham Jewellers

PHOTO: M. PERIASAMY

GOAL FEVER Try your luck PHOTO: M. PERIASAMY

This is soccer season. Football lovers across globe are going crazy discussing the game in detail. Even in India, the game is currently a better talking point than cricket. Sadly, much of the excitement is missing in the city. Only a handful of soccer fans has come out to express their love for the sport. Pavizham Jewellers is one.

Thanks to its `Gold for goal' contest, the jewellery store on the busy Cross Cut Road has generated a lot of excitement. Step into its premises and you will feel the World Cup fever.

The entire parking area has been converted into some sort of a football arena.

What you get

The specially designed field is open to customers wanting to try their luck at scoring a goal. All that a participant has to do is beat the custodian at the net and walk away with medals, cups and cash discounts.

You can also get yourself photographed with the World Cup replica.

Now, it is not going to be that easy to get the ball past the net because the goalkeepers are all experienced footballers.

Pavizham has roped in district footballers and sought the support of the Tamil Nadu Football Association to give the event a professional touch.

Lijo S. Chungath of Pavizham says he stumbled upon the idea during his recent business stay in England.

"The craze there was really high. It is not just the big men in business who joined the soccer party, but even small timers. Almost all shops had messages praying for an English win. This prompted me to do something back home."

"A similar contest was held at the Madame Tussauds wax museum in London, but it was electronically managed. We planned it likewise here but then dropped it because the actual feel would be lost," he adds.

Officials from both the State and the district association, who were present at the inaugural function last week, were impressed with the effort. They also promised to bring the prestigious Santhosh Trophy and the crowd back to Coimbatore.

The store also felicitated past and present footballers and national referee, Shivakumar, who have done their State proud.

The contest, open to the public till July 9, has separate penalty spots for children, men and women. The little ones will also enjoy the advantage of shooting with a smaller ball. Spare boots are also available for those used to playing with one. As many as 120 cups are up for grabs every day.

Lijo points out that in Mallapuram in Kerala the fever this year is on a high. "At a recent wedding, I was stumped to see the entire bridal party dressed in Argentinean and Brazilian jerseys. I don't know when Coimbatore will see such excitement," he adds.

R.R.

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