This rainstorm can take the heat off football’s heat

Thiruvananthapuram city is all set to plunge itself into a soccer frenzy with the live telecast of matches on big screens, World Cup quiz programmes, penalty shootout competitions and various other exciting events.

With the city already in the grip of football fever, quite evident in colourful hoardings and flags put up by fans of various teams in every nook and corner, several organizations, including the district football association, Vanchiyur football club and Goethe-Zentrum are prepared for screening the matches live on big screens for the public.

The district football association has tied up with various football clubs in the district to screen all matches on big screens at 48 different locations, probably an unprecedented large-scale telecast of FIFA world cup matches on big screens anywhere in Kerala.

“There are 48 registered football clubs in the district and all are showing the matches for the public on big screens,” said former MLA and district football association president V Sivankutty. A makeshift auditorium is being set up at Vanchiyur junction, which can accommodate 500 people. “There are also plans to convert this temporary auditorium into a permanent cultural and festival centre in future,” he said.

The association, with the support of the Vanchiyur FC, has also planned programmes like world cup quiz competition, penalty shootouts and ‘predict the winner’ contest. Special sessions to instill a passion for soccer in children are also on the cards.

Goethe-Zentrum is screening matches live at its amphitheater free for public. The centre is screening all group matches at 8.30 pm and 11.30 pm, besides the quarter-final, semi-final and the final matches.