This weekend, parents too can play at Gurgaon football fiesta

This weekend, parents of the players participating in Hindustan Times Great Indian Football Action will not be mere spectators. They will also play at a Parents Game Zone, a new feature of the event that will be in place on Saturday at Ansal University in Sector 55.

This weekend, parents of the players participating in Hindustan Times Great Indian Football Action (HT GIFA) will not be mere spectators. They will also play at a Parents Game Zone, a new feature of the event that will be in place on Saturday at Ansal University in Sector 55.

South Pool Rovers and Spaze Privy play at last week’s HT GIFA tournament in Gurgaon. (PARVEEN KUMAR/HT File Photo)

The Parents Game Zone will have a skipping challenge, dizzy ball challenge, relay race, push-ups competition, football shootout, abs challenge, dart competition, badminton, turn ball, archery and hoola hoops. The winners will get innovative prizes from Decathalon, a sports retail company. Also, there will be food and refreshment stalls with music.

“We often get so caught up in being grown-ups that we forget how to have fun. No wonder most parents have a full-time job and feel drained with little or no energy at the end of the day. This game zone by HT may recharge our batteries. I am already enthusiastic about coming here on Saturday,” said Shalu Sinha, a parent.

This makes HT GIFA not just a soccer league but, a place where both parents and children can have fun together this year.

Players warm up on September 26 -- the first day of HT GIFA -- in Gurgaon. (Abhinav Saha/HT File Photo)

Parents said HT GIFA is something that they have been looking forward to as many of them are soccer fans too. With the addition of this game zone, they have become more enthusiastic to accompany their children for the event.

“We support our children and don’t restrict them for playing soccer. It will be great to revisit our childhood days,” said Mita Khanna, a resident of Ridgewood Estate.

This is the second weekend of HT GIFA. The first week saw players in action with yellow cards by referees and energy drinks flowing amid a cheering crowd of parents. A total 150 teams from several condominiums and societies across Gurgaon are participating in the event.

The teams, high on football fever, have been practising ever since the tournament was announced. They have also been working on their strategies for the matches to come.

Manan Sachdeva, a player of Uniworld FC, the senior team of Uniworld Gardens located on Sohna Road, said, “It is a good initiative by HT to have a parent’s game zone. I don’t get much time with my parents as both of them are working. This will give us the opportunity for all of us to play together.”

The matches will conclude late Saturday evening.