Interview with John Abraham: We wanted to bring all 8 states together as one with NorthEast United FC
Your affection for football is very well known. Was the ISL an opportunity that you were waiting for to make it into something more than an interest?
My love for football is something that everyone has been aware of for a very long time. However my affection for sports at large has been prominent with my hockey team and my love for bikes. The opportunity for owning a football club has come at the right time as I felt the need to promote the sport from the point of influence was essential.
Owning an ISL franchise, how has the experience been so far? You had expressed interest only in the Guwahati franchise. Can you tell us a little more about that?
The experience has been very overwhelming. The onus was on bringing not just 1 but 8 states and putting them on the map of India with highlight and prominence given to football which is their main sport.
The tie-up with Shillong Lajong, what was the thought process behind that?
Well, I am a purist at heart and everything I do has a certain sense of ownership to it. The sole reason I chose the North-east franchise was because of its successful grassroots programme and the commitment for development it has towards the talent of football at large.
Promotion of youth is key to your strategy (not taking part in player drafts). Do you expect to continue down the same path, and what expectations do you have from the team this year?
Shillong Lajong have been a successful I-league team and the Shillong Lajong Academy has given birth to some very successful youngsters who are prominent players on the Indian football teams, both Junior and Senior. Tying up with them seemed the perfect fit as the talent from here has been consistent and I believe they have a larger role to play in contributing to the ISL team that they are now a part of.
Do you foresee the ISL becoming a year long (9 months) fixture (as it will help players play for continental honors) in the future, based on the success of the 1st edition?
I hope it does, as it has the potential to become a full fledged league.The most important thing that I want out of this year's tournament is that our players come together with their playing styles to become one coherent united team. Our player draft had a strategic thought process to it with the signing of a World Cup player in Capdevila and other senior players of skill like Miguel Garcia, Issac Chansa, James Keene and Koke, to name a few.
Also beyond football I want the sport to bring the 8 states together and to unite with the vision that it is beyond just the game.
You have spoken about your desire to play out of venues in all the 8 states in the future. Why do you feel that is important?
Well unlike all the other teams that have only a specific state, the NEUFC is 8 states put together as one. I feel it is very important for us to engage involvement of each state highlighting or giving each state the feeling of belonging to it as much as the others are.
Tell us a little more about your movie, 1911, based around East Bengal and Mohun Bagan.
My love for football has always been known and I may not know too much of the technical aspect of the game but from a pure passion aspect, I have always done things that i holistically believe in and the movie around these two legendary clubs just seemed a perfect fit between my profession and my passion.