Bengaluru, September 20, 2025: The football ground at Depot18, near Jayamahal Palace, turned into a battlefield of hope on Saturday, as students of St Joseph’s University and corporate teams from EY, Rapido, IBM, Simpl, Nobroker, Epsilon, Bread Financial, and Avantor came together for Rabona 2.0 – a football tournament with a powerful social mission: fighting substance addiction.
More than 40 students and 24 corporate teams participated, while close to 200 supporters filled the stands, transforming the evening into a vibrant celebration of youth power, corporate solidarity, and community resilience.
The urgency of the campaign cannot be overstated. A 2019 AIIMS report estimated that over 5.7 crore Indians struggle with substance use disorders, while more than 16 crore consume alcohol in harmful patterns. Bengaluru, with its fast-paced corporate culture and rising student stress levels, has been especially vulnerable.
The five-a-side tournament saw high-octane knockout rounds, with the final between TGFC and CAG 7 ending in a nail-biting penalty shootout. The TGFC team edged past to lift the Rabona 2.0 trophy, sending the crowd into raptures.
But beyond the scoreboard, every goal carried a deeper meaning. “Addiction isolates, but football brings people together. That is how we reclaim lives,” said fitness influencer Kishore (@kisthenics2024), who flagged off the tournament.
For many students, the event was personal. “I’ve seen close friends slip into addiction. Playing here today felt like taking that space back for hope and healing,” said Venkatesh M, Student Co-ordinator of Rabona 2.0.
The proceeds from the event will go to Project Smile Trust, a Bengaluru-based NGO dedicated to de-addiction and rehabilitation. “Rabona 2.0 is not just about raising awareness – it creates a pathway for recovery and dignity,” said Nabeela Shah, Program Manager at the Trust.
Organized entirely by the final-year MA – Advertising and Public Relations students, the campaign highlighted the power of communication students to turn learning into action. “When students step out of classrooms and create change on the ground, they prove that awareness isn’t enough – it must be lived,” said Fr. Melwyn Pinto, Dean of the School of Communication and Media Studies.
As cheers echoed across the ground and the Rabona 2.0 trophy was lifted, one thing became clear: Bengaluru’s youth are not just kicking a football – they are kicking off conversations, actions, and solutions for a healthier, addiction-free city.