Back Street Boys

Every evening,a park in Delhis Rajendra Nagar Colony is full of obsessed youngsters kicking and passing and blocking a football.

After T20 cricket,here comes the shorter version of football

Every evening,a park in Delhis Rajendra Nagar Colony is full of obsessed youngsters kicking and passing and blocking a football. Karan Verma,17,who has just passed out of Modern School,has followed a regular football routine with six friends. After a few years of playing,Verma,the captain,has decided to create a team called Campa after hearing about the Delhi Street Football (DSF),where teams from different colonies in the Capital are pitted against each other. The event,scheduled for early June,will have 32 teams,31 matches and a set of rules very different from that of mainstream football.

The dynamics of street football are constantly evolving. Right now there are five players in every team,the field is smaller,the ball is smaller and a typical match lasts 30 minutes, says Aman Arora,19,an economics student at Delhi University,who is organising DSF with Agastya Dalmia,Tushar Bedi,Ankur Chauhan and Ankur Pujara,all students. The concept,adds Bedi,can be traced to Europe and Latin America,where street football is an organised league sport and many mainstream footballers like the Brazilian Ronaldinho still exhibit the showmanship learnt from the streets.

So far,three teams from Gurgaon and four teams from south Delhi have registered. Packed into a space no bigger than a basketball court,street footballers rely on skills like Rainbow,in which a player twists backward to flip the ball over the head of a player,and crossover dribbling which involves zigzag passes to get to the goal. Its fast and furious because there isnt enough space or time for eight guys to run a lot. Youve got to score,and score fast, explains Verma.

Though the tournament has done away with several foul rules,players may be sent to a sin bin for an offence. The duration of the sin bin will depend on the referee. A player may only be sin binned once per game,as a second offence would involve a sending off, says Dalmia.

The tournament is planned on a knockout format,with a championship prize of Rs 15,000. Chauhan adds that they were pleasantly surprised by the flood of enquiries ever since registrations opened earlier this week. Six teams have formally registered so far and the rest have yet to submit their documents, says Arora,as Bedi adds that three womens street teams also called for details.

The event will be held on June 6 and 7 at 27 Akbar Road. Contact: 9999244333.

Registration fee: Rs 2,500 per team.

Dipanita Nath

Dipanita Nath is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. She is a versatile journalist with a deep interest in the intersection of culture, sustainability, and urban life. Professional Background Experience: Before joining The Indian Express, she worked with other major news organizations including Hindustan Times, The Times of India, and Mint. Core Specializations: She is widely recognized for her coverage of the climate crisis, theatre and performing arts, heritage conservation, and the startup ecosystem (often through her "Pune Inc" series). Storytelling Focus: Her work often unearths "hidden stories" of Pune—focusing on historical institutes, local traditions, and the personal journeys of social innovators. Recent Notable Articles (December 2025) Her recent reporting highlights Pune’s cultural pulse and the environmental challenges facing the city during the winter season: 1. Climate & Environment "Pune shivers on coldest morning of the season; minimum temperature plunges to 6.9°C" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the record-breaking cold wave in Pune and the IMD's forecast for the week. "How a heritage tree-mapping event at Ganeshkhind Garden highlights rising interest in Pune’s green legacy" (Dec 20, 2025): Covering a citizen-led initiative where Gen Z and millennials gathered to document and protect ancient trees at a Biodiversity Heritage Site. "Right to breathe: Landmark NGT order directs PMC to frame norms for pollution from construction sites" (Dec 8, 2025): Reporting on a significant legal victory for residents fighting dust and air pollution in urban neighborhoods like Baner. 2. "Hidden Stories" & Heritage "Inside Pune library that’s nourished minds of entrepreneurs for 17 years" (Dec 21, 2025): A feature on the Venture Center Library, detailing how a collection of 3,500 specialized books helps tech startups navigate the product life cycle. "Before he died, Ram Sutar gave Pune a lasting gift" (Dec 18, 2025): A tribute to the legendary sculptor Ram Sutar (creator of the Statue of Unity), focusing on his local works like the Chhatrapati Shivaji statue at Pune airport. "The Pune institute where MA Jinnah was once chief guest" (Dec 6, 2025): An archival exploration of the College of Agriculture, established in 1907, and its historical role in India's freedom struggle. 3. Arts, Theatre & "Pune Inc" "Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak were not rivals but close friends, says veteran filmmaker" (Dec 17, 2025): A deep-dive interview ahead of the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) exploring the camaraderie between legends of Indian cinema. "Meet the Pune entrepreneur helping women build and scale businesses" (Dec 16, 2025): Part of her "Pune Inc" series, profiling Nikita Vora’s efforts to empower female-led startups. "How women drone pilots in rural Maharashtra are cultivating a green habit" (Dec 12, 2025): Exploring how technology is being used by women in agriculture to reduce chemical use and labor. Signature Style Dipanita Nath is known for intellectual curiosity and a narrative-driven approach. Whether she is writing about a 110-year-old eatery or the intricacies of the climate crisis, she focuses on the human element and the historical context. Her columns are often a blend of reportage and cultural commentary, making them a staple for readers interested in the "soul" of Pune. X (Twitter): @dipanitanath ... Read More

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Back Street Boys

Every evening,a park in Delhis Rajendra Nagar Colony is full of obsessed youngsters kicking and passing and blocking a football.

Every evening,a park in Delhis Rajendra Nagar Colony is full of obsessed youngsters kicking and passing and blocking a football.