Ranbir Kapoor is all geared up for a charity football match this Saturday. The actor chatted with Prerna Sharma on his passion for the game and his plans to promote it across India
It was a rare sight to watch Ranbir Kapoor hop from one corner of the ground to the other. Kids followed him and he, like a football coach, gave them a few tips. The actor will be a part of the charity football match, to take place on March 30, and was here to interact with the children from Magic Bus Charity Foundation.
The 30-year-old actor is the vice-captain of the All Star Football Club, which is led by Abhishek Bachchan.
The team will play their first game at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, against the All Hearts Football Club comprising members from the Indian Cricket team, led by captain Virat Kohli.
As a part of the football club, Ranbir will play three matches every year.
Ranbir, a self-confessed football fan, feels schools and colleges in the country should take the sport seriously. “I have been passionate about football ever since I was in school. I played for the under-14 and the under-16 tournaments and I also played at the district level. Every school should encourage football in India. It teaches you discipline and a lot about about how to work as a team,” said he, a Barcelona lover.
About his team’s preparation for the forthcoming match, Ranbir said, “We are under rigorous training since last three months. We make sure to take every Sunday off to practice together. Abhishek Bachchan, Aditya Roy Kapoor, Arjun Kapoor and Dino Morea are tall, which will be beneficial for us. We have an advantage, as the master of football Baichung Bhutia has given us few tips. Also, we have learnt a few things from Ahmad Ali. We have a team of strong players, and I think I am the best of all!” he said and added, “I am aware that our opposition is very strong. Virat Kohli is very fit and fast. It is a challenge to play with the Indian cricket team, where every player is so fit. But we are no less. I have already played with Virat and Dhoni and I know their weak and strong points, I would keep them in mind while playing.”
“Indian cricket team might win but the game is not about winning or losing. Our aim is to generate as much revenue as we can, as the money will help these children to grow up as confident individuals,” he said.
The actor was seen promoting cricket in one of the ad commercials, “Mujhse ye log sab kuchh karwa lete hain! (People make me do things). I am a simple man, that’s why they entrap me. But, if you will see the commercial carefully, you will notice I was also promoting football along with cricket. (laughs).”
The actor said that Delhi has better stadiums. “We don’t have any good football stadium in Mumbai. I would like the authorities to take it up and give the city a world class football stadium,” said Ranbir.
He ended, “We are soon planning to play in Kolkata, which is the hub of football in our country.”