Have you ever wanted to be part of a sport but then play without the rules? Soap football is a terrace arena where you can slip, slide, kick, fall and establish your own rules – if you want to. This first-ever slippery turf in the city was launched by two childhood friends Ahmed Nooh and Ahamed Jalaludeen at Nungambakkam, recently.
As a group of friends prepped themselves with protective gear for an hour of fun, City Express chatted with Jalal about the concept. “It is a fun game involving water, soap and two teams of four. We strap them up with knee pads, elbow pads, a helmet and they are good to go!”
Once in, the chain reaction of slips, trips and laughter begins. If you are still suspicious about injuries, Jalal says, “It’s basically an inflatable turf and you can’t bruise yourself but in case you do, there are trained first aid men ready. We also have a notice board that states only people between the age of 10 and 40 are advised to play. Nevertheless, we allow the elders if they are insistent or keen on it.”
Their first customers were actually a group of middle-aged people, part of a club who had come there for an evening of fun. Jalal added that you could host an event like a birthday party complete with a food counter and décor. It would be a soapy party on the rooftop!
“Initially, we did look for a ground floor, outdoor space but it did not click. This building belongs to my father and the terrace space has been vacant and lifeless for years. Why not bring some fun here? That’s how this roof top arena was chosen. We didn’t even bother to cover the top as it would spoil the magic of the open air atmosphere. If it rains, it’s all the more fun! I’ve been jumping in whenever possible too,” Jalal chuckles. It is quite surprising because he also says that he has never watched or played a game of football before!
Only two other cities in the country have a soap football arena — Mumbai and Bengaluru. They were inspired by the concept when the other partner visited the Middle East, Dubai.
“Nooh found over four facilities in Dubai and it was quite popular. He told me about it and we decided to introduce it to Chennaiites. The plans began about eight months earlier and we put in a lot of research to get it done right,” says Jalal. A game of soap football costs `2,300 a group, per hour on weekdays and 2,500 on weekends. The arena is open from 3pm to 12am. For details, call 7502001197.
In the process of finding space, we learnt about the new culture of terrace footballs in Chennai. The reason why such sports come up in terrace is because it requires a large area of land, rent on a ground floor will be much higher within the city, its breezy up there of course looks cooler! —Ahmed Nooh, founding partner, Soap Football
What They Say
Sharan Prakash It was an amazing experience. This is probably the first time I got to play something unique likethis involving a ball, soap and water and what’s more it’s on the roof top, seven floors above. I got to know it about from my friend who found it on facebook.I had lots of memorable moments and I will most certainly visit again for a fun ball game.
Vignesh Rama subramanian
Lucky enough to experience the fun and the craziness of Soap Football! I’ve been to other Soap Football facilities and this one is probably the best! Can’t wait to go back!
T NITHISH
It was a fun experience and a great way to beat the heat in chennai (though its raining right now). My friends slipping and falling made me laugh throughtout the two hours. Soap football is for you to slip, fall, kick the ball to the goal and laugh for a lifetime!