There's a new way to play football in town and it's a bumpy ride

There may be countless eateries and malls across Karachi, but when it comes to outdoor activities, there are barely any outlets for entertainment-starved city dwellers. Bumpers Pakistan, however, has decided to change that.

The goal of the game is fairly simple: bump, roll and flip over while trying to score a goal against your opponents. The venture, which started only a few months ago, offers an hour full of fun and lots of bumps!

Ever heard the saying, "Fall seven times, stand up eight”? Well that definitely applies when you're standing in a field, ready to get bumped down by your friends covered in huge inflated suits.



Located on Khayaban-e-Rahat, Phase VI, DHA, the startup has a portion of the DA SKBZ ground dedicated for its activities and costs about Rs1,200 (or more) per head, depending on the size of the group. Is it worth it? The Express Tribune tried out first-hand.



A group of us entered a field thinking it was going to be as easy as pie getting into those life-sized bumpers and bumping into each other. It wasn't. There's no doubt that you will be overwhelmed by the experience and would want to start as soon as you get there, but there are certain rules to be followed.

Rule #1: Shoes that have sharp ends (e.g. soccer cleats) are strictly prohibited

Rule #2: Do not wear any kind of jewellery

Rule #3: Once inside the ball, do not remove the safety belts from shoulders

Rule #4: Do not push anyone from behind

Rule #5: If a person has fallen down, wait till they stand up before attacking again

Rule #6: Leave the field if you want to rest

Rule #7: RUN!!!

Once you're on the field, there are several games you can play in an hour. Our favourites were Bumper Soccer and Chor Police, which according to members of Bumpers Pakistan were 'mild' activities, but left us crying for painkillers for the next two days.



How it all began

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Founder of Bumpers Pakistan Ravi Bhimsen said his love for sports urged him to try something new.



"It all began about a year ago when I was watching some videos on YouTube and came across such an activity (bumper sports). I realised immediately that from many other things, this was what Karachiites needed."



Bumpers Pakistan officially kick started on June 10, 2016, and the response has been phenomenal, Bhimsen says, adding that tapping the market for such activities wasn't difficult.

The aim of the venture is to give people of Karachi something new, keeping in mind their need for adventure and thrill.

"We want people to come out of their homes and experience something like never before. At the same time, we want our customers to feel comfortable; thus, Bumpers Pakistan offers exclusive sessions only," Bhimsen said.



He went on to say that the sport is perfectly safe and players are not at risk of any serious injuries. "We take safety precautions, rules are laid out very clearly to avoid accidents," he said, while adding that children below the age of 12 are advised not to play; however the physique and weight of the player matters more than the age.”

Bhimsen does not intend to limit his venture to the metropolis, revealing that plans of expansion within Karachi, as well as in other cities are in the pipeline.



Friendly advice: Build your stamina before you go and be prepared to have an amazing time. The perfect number of people to take with you would be 10-12, given the limited amount of space on the field.