Futsal in Manipal

The setting is almost perfect. The twilight sky, shades of orange and blue mixed with the brightness of halogen lights, a mild breeze and a hundred odd students shouting their lungs out. Add to that, ten footballers, and one basketball court.
Welcome to Manipal's style of Futsal!
The 5-a-side version of the "Beautiful Game" has captured the enthusiasm of boys and girls alike in the student dominated city in the rocky hinterland of the Malabar Coast in Karnataka. Every month, teams gather at a pre-decided venue (has to be a basketball court) and battle it out for pure bragging rights in the footballing arena. Swift passing, the occasional cheeky-chip, and a flying tackle. All this and more make Futsal a thoroughly entertaining event here.
The rules of this, only marginally differ from those of the longer version. However, the difference is what makes it more exciting. Instead of the usual throw-in (from the touchline), players have to kick-in the ball. No corners in this game; enter the throw-in corner. By and large, though, the action remains in much the same tempo as any Champions League or indeed a World Cup match.
Here too referees face the wrath of any team that gets a bad decision. One yellow card and sure enough, the ref is hounded by complaints. The fact that the man-in-charge is himself a student makes it an even more explosive affair!
Matches last for 30 minutes (15 minutes per half), with no half-time breaks, just a change of sides. If this reminds you of an extra-time type game, then you're right. It's usually a single goal that wins it for a team. Only a few go right down to the wire with both sets of players battling for the ball, like it was made of Gold! And then, the level of intensity rises like never before. Minor scuffles break out for the smallest of things. Tackles fly around by the dozen. Not even the hard floor of the cement court is daunting enough to make the players play clean. Thus, the end of a match usually means at least 3 or 4 bruises.
The players themselves show they are not there to have fun. Some quality displays of skill really light up this event. Did somebody say Cryuff turn? Or maybe a few Ronaldo-like step overs? It's all here.
And get a load of the team-names that are picked. Ever heard of a team called L.S.D.?
No they're not drug-addicted footballers! The Long Shooting Department is one of the many wacky names that teams sign up with. Among others are The Jumping Jack Step-Over team and the Beer Guzzlers. I think you get the idea!
Apart from the fact that everyone involved has a lot of fun, it is also noteworthy, that in an environment as rigid and study-oriented as college, students still love their football and love to play it.
In an event, fully organized by students, it is heartening to see the quality of players that line up to do battle. It Speaks volumes for the sporting hope of Manipal and hopefully for India too.