March 29, 2024 13:10 (IST)
Follow us:
facebook-white sharing button
twitter-white sharing button
instagram-white sharing button
youtube-white sharing button
PM Modi has mastered art of manipulating democracy, hurting Constitution: Mallikarjun Kharge | Mafia-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari dies of cardiac arrest at 63 | NIA arrests key conspirator in Bengaluru cafe blast case | Actor Govinda returns to politics after 14 years of 'vanvas', joins Eknath Shinde camp | 'To browbeat and bully others is vintage Congress culture': PM posts after 600 lawyers write to CJI
Abhishek Bachchan and Ranbir Kapoor hit the football field for charity

Abhishek Bachchan and Ranbir Kapoor hit the football field for charity

India Blooms News Service | | 11 May 2017, 01:31 pm
Mumbai, May 11 (IBNS) Football fever has been growing exponentially in the country over the last few years. A lot of this has to be credited to the efforts that have been put in by B-Town to promote the sport. Carrying on in the same spirit, the ASFC, led by Abhishek Bachchan took on the CISF team for a friendly match in Mumbai yesterday.

Ranbir Kapoor, Shoojit Sircar, Shabbir Ahluwalia, Vivian Dsena, Armaan Jain, Vikram Thapa, Raj Kundra, Armaan Rehlan, Antoni Pecora, Sachiin Joshi, Jim Sarbh, Marc Robinson, Utsav Bachani and Mazhar Dalvi were also part of this illustrious team of philanthropists and football enthusiasts. Ranbir who has been known to be a football aficionado and huge Barcelona fan was the vice-captain of the squad. 

ASFC won the friendly match against CISF 2 – 1. The CISF team constituted of players from Maharashtra, Goa, Daman and Diu.

“­­­­I was very happy to get at least 5 minutes on the pitch after over a year just trying to recover from injury. I am so happy, the boys played immensely and showed great heart and we were up against a formidable team. I am so happy a win after a long time. Coming back from one down and then winning 2 – 1 and then holding it, the boys were just fantastic.” said captain Abhishek Bachchan.

What is quite interesting is that the captain and vice-captain of ASFC are themselves proud owners of ISL teams. Abhishek Bachchan owns Chennaiyan FC while Ranbir Kapoor is the owner of Mumbai City FC. So their passion for football is quite evident.

India is proudly hosting FIFA Under – 17 World Cup in October this year. The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has called for the support of not only children but also parents to encourage boys and girls to play football and develop both skill and fitness. The tournament will be a milestone event in many ways, but perhaps most lasting aspect will be Mission XI Million, which is a grassroot programme designed to encourage children to play this popular game.

Mission XI Million is a school contact programme that aims at improving the football ecosystem and ultimately widening the talent pool for the national team. Vying to reach out to over 37 cities and 12,000 schools across all 29 states of India, the initiative will focus on games that can be adapted to different field sizes and conditions, with special emphasis on small-sided games. It is divided into three phases: seminars for teacher and educators, in-school activities and football festivals, which will run up to September, 2017

Keeping in view of the appeal of the Honorable Prime Minister , MHA has desired that in run up to the Under 17 FIFA World Cup to be held in India in October 2017, State police and Central Armed Police Forces ( CAPFs) should organize football competition with active  engagement of young students, so that a feeling of competition is instilled among them ,

Film producer & Owner ASFC Bunty Walia,  said, “This is all in the spirit that is building up in our nation in anticipation of the FIFA Under 17 World Cup that is to be held in October this year. Our PM has expressed his desire to uplift the sport of football in the nation. Abhishek and Ranbir, who are both known for their love for football and their charitable spirit, worked around their schedule to make this friendly match a reality.”

Support Our Journalism

We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism

IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.

Support objective journalism for a small contribution.