Members of Khatti Thugs strike a pose. Telegraph picture

Bhubaneswar, Dec. 16: The sight of Robin van Persie or Wayne Rooney scoring a goal is enough to bring the house down. Then there are some who would rather want the David Moyes-managed Red Devils to lose. Whichever team they might support, for Khatti Thugs, a group of 20-odd youngsters, football is religion.

This bunch of football-crazy college goers, who have been friends since school, now intend to spread the mania by organising match screenings accompanied with DJs belting out hits such as Wavin’ flag and Waka waka.

Having taken the cue from bigger cities, Khatti Thugs are planning to organise live screenings of football matches and combine it with a party ambience.

They will take the first kick at the goal at a private hotel near Master Canteen Square on December 29, when English Premier league teams Chelsea and Liverpool clash.

Football lovers can watch the game, dance to the music of local DJs Rick and Neil, munch on their favourite snacks and down their preferred drinks.

They can hope for more on New Year’s Day when Van Persie, if fit, and Rooney will take to the field when Manchester United takes on Tottenham Hotspur.

“Football is played by millions and watched by billions. The idea behind having such events is to give the football fans of Bhubaneswar a chance to enjoy it like their counterparts in metropolitan cities. This would give them a chance to cheer for their favourite club while watching it on the big projector screen and engage in friendly banter with fans of the rival team,” said 21-year-old Raja Kaibalya, a member of the group.

Amlan Kumar, a final-year engineering student, founded the group about four years ago. Like-minded people joined it gradually.

“All big English Premier League matches take place on weekends and they can be great stress busters for those who slog throughout the week. We are expecting a decent footfall. Depending on the response, we will take a call on organising more such events. The idea is not to mint money but to celebrate soccer,” said Sanket Mahapatra, a die-hard Chelsea fan.

Last Sunday, the club felicitated eminent woman footballer Sradhanjali Samantray and women football coach Nandakishore Pattnaik at a small gathering.