By:
Upala
KBR,
Mid-Day
Wednesday,
November
07,
2007
John
Abraham
is
known
for
his
love
for
sports,
especially
football.
Currently,
he
is
very
excited
about
a
tie-up
with
ESPN
Star
Sports
where
he
will
become
the
face
of
football
in
India
till
Euro
Cup
2008.
His
next
release,
Goal,
based
on
football,
comes
out
on
November
23.
Says
a
source
close
to
John,
“The
channel
has
seen
some
parts
of
Vivek
Agnihotri"s
Goal
and
loved
it.
They
want
John
to
be
their
brand
ambassador
for
football
as
they
feel
he"s
a
keen
football
enthusiast.
Who
better
than
him
with
his
knowledge,
understanding
and
experience
of
the
game?
John
has
played
football
in
school,
college
and
during
his
management
days.
Currently,
John
is
in
talks
with
the
channel.
The
ESPN
tie-up
will
mean
that
John
becomes
the
face
of
football
in
India
who
will
promote
the
game
as
a
brand
ambassador."
Lovin" it
Says
an
excited
John,
“I
will
be
thrilled
if
the
tie-up
happens.
Kids
love
sports
and
it
will
be
a
healthy
thing
I
will
be
associated
with.
There
are
lots
of
kids
out
there
who
want
to
see
football
on
screen.
Most
children
dream
of
doing
the
bicycle-kick
in
football,
I
got
to
do
it
in
Goal."
The
actor"s
love
for
football
is
well
known.
He
says,
“I
love
the
game.
I
have
always
said
that
I
love
two
things
in
life
—
riding
a
bike
and
playing
football.
I
got
to
ride
a
bike
in
Dhoom
and
today
I
am
playing
football
in
Goal.
I
have
captained
my
school,
junior
college,
management
team
and
Bombay
district
in
football.
Then
I
had
to
decide
between
education
and
sports,
as
there"s
no
money
in
the
game
That"s
when
I
gave
up
football
and
pursued
my
MBA
degree."
He
continues,
“I
wish
there
was
money
in
football.
It"s
a
sad
state
of
affairs.
We
missed
out
trying
to
qualify
for
the
Asian
qualifying
round.
I
keep
track
of
all
the
big
league
games
—Indian,
English
premier
league,
the
Spanish
premier
league,
Celta
Viga
and
the
Italian
premier
league,
the
Serie
A."
Like
Rooney
When
John
was
playing
football
in
Goal,
the
players
of
Manchester
United
(the
team
they
played
against)
would
often
compare
him
to
Wayne
Rooney.
John
grins,
“Yes,
but
that
was
because
of
his
game.
A
lot
of
my
character
has
been
modelled
on
Wayne
Rooney"s
style
and
the
way
he
struck
the
ball.
Rooney
is
revered
in
England
and
the
guys
in
Manchester
felt
that
the
way
I
kicked
the
ball
hard
and
slammed
the
ball
into
the
nets
during
the
workouts
was
a
lot
like
Rooney."
Names
that
figure
in
John"s
list
of
favourite
football
players
include
Argentine
Lionel
Messi
and
Brazilians
Ronaldinho
and
Robinho.
Says
John,
“Maradona
says
Messi
will
succeed
him
and
recreate
his
playing
style.
I
like
Cristiano
Ronaldo"s
game
too.
He
is
one
of
the
best
players
today
and
his
game
is
simply
outstanding." Ronaldo
was
the
same
guy
with
whom
Bipasha
had
an
outing
with
in
Lisbon.
“Football," John
adds,
“is
a
high
maintenance
sport
where
one
has
to
be
extremely
fit.
He
says,
“It"s
not
about
having
a
great
body
but
the
core
being
fit.
A
game
of
football
is
running
for
12
miles
but
fortunately,
I
had
Andy
Ansa
and
my
trainer
Mike
Ryan
from
LA
who
were
instrumental
in
helping
me
keep
fit."