Interview with Chennaiyin co-owner Abhishek Bachchan: Marco Materazzi's enthusiasm is infectious

Chennaiyin FC were toppers of the Indian Super League stage last year but lost out in a close semi-final. Despite this year’s start not being as good as 2014, owner Abhishek Bachchan still seems upbeat about his team’s chances. In an exclusive chat with Sportskeeda, ‘Junior Bachchan’ tells us about the journey of Chennaiyin FC, his forays into sports and his unadulterated love for football.

First off, let me start by asking you about your sports ventures. With Jaipur Pink Panthers and Chennaiyin FC, was it a conscious effort from you to drift away from cricket?

No, not at all. When I made the decision to get into sports, I wanted to choose sports that I could genuinely make a contribution to. Cricket already has an up and running infrastructure in place, and a great management that has made it this huge sport in India.

So, with football and kabaddi, the strategy behind taking up these two sports, was to take up something that I could contribute to and help in building something big. By God’s grace, it has gone well so far, with Jaipur winning the first Kabaddi league, and Chennaiyin doing commendably last year.

With Chennaiyin FC, you were the last franchise to be formed last year. And in many ways, it was a gamble in appointing Marco Materazzi as head coach, considering that he was an unknown quantity as a manager. How did you arrive at that decision?

When Vita (Dani, co-owner of Chennaiyin FC) and I first sat down and discussed it, I was clear about the way I wanted the club structured. As a manager, I wanted someone who was a towering personality. Someone who would boss the changing room because that is very important. I wanted somebody that all our players, both local and international, would look up to.

And Marco [Materazzi] fit the bill. Obviously, he came here with a reputation; a reputation that I think precedes him sometimes. But what he has achieved on a world stage, let alone the club stage, is incredible.

I still remember, I flew out to Rome on the night that Jaipur won the Kabaddi cup and, when I spoke to Marco, one thing that struck me immediately was his enthusiasm. This was his first assignment as head coach and he showed a passion to do the job, which is infectious.

That conversation made it clear to me that he was the guy. When he came down here and spoke with the players for the first time, you knew that this was a guy who knew what he was doing and fit what we wanted at the club as well.

There seems to be a wonderful team environment at Chennaiyin. And from what I have seen, you have contributed to that in many ways. Do you make an honest effort to try and mingle with all the players?

Yes, I do. Look, I’ve played sports, and the most important thing in any sport is the team spirit. I think in the 90th minute when your body is giving up on you, it is that team spirit, your teammates pushing you to give that extra 10%, which could turn the game your way.

And I try to be a member of the squad as much as I can. At both Jaipur and Chennaiyin, all the players know that my door is always open, and they can come and talk to me with their concerns, and they do.

At Chennaiyin, we constantly see the likes of Elano and Mendy being very vocal on the pitch. Do you think that is something that stems from you?

I don’t know whether it stems from me, but it is something that I have told Marco and a few of the senior players. Mendoza’s story from last year was brilliant. He comes down to India, doesn’t speak a word of English, he speaks only Spanish. But the way Elano took him under his wings last year was terrific to see.

Mendoza’s performances on the field last year spoke for itself, but I’ll give Elano a lot of credit for that as well. The team environment is fabulous. You always see them at the hotel, having meals together. But most importantly, I think each and everyone stands up for everyone else, which is very important.

You are obviously a huge football fan. How did the love for football start?

I went to a British Boarding School, and there football was pretty much everything around me. With a lot of my friends being British, it was easy to get attracted to football. And I did play a hell of a lot when I was in school.

My father actually introduced me to football earlier, but that was more international football than club football. So, I learnt a lot about English football from my friends when I was in school.

And any particular moment or person who attracted you to Chelsea?

Gianfranco Zola. Look, I’ve been following English football even before the Premiership was set up, and I was a big Ruud Gullit fan. But suddenly, I see this little pocket-sized dynamo running around and tormenting defences and that was it.

A couple of years later, I went to Stamford Bridge and it was a wonderful feeling. Even now, I go to the Bridge once in a while and it is an awesome feeling when you are there.

Coming back to Chennai, the people of the city seem to have to taken to you, what with you coming to the stadium in a lungi and what not. How has your experience with Chennai been, considering that it is a vastly different city from Mumbai or Jaipur?

Don’t call it a lungi. It is the Lucky Lungi! But no, I’ve spent a lot of time in Chennai, thanks to doing three films with Mani Ratnam and I did Phir Milenge with Revathi. So Chennai has been a big part of my life. I love coming down here.

Over the years, it has almost become a second home for me. It started when I came down with my father who did quite a bit of filming here. But going around the stadium at half-time is just my way of thanking the fans.

Speaking of the fans, has the response to Chennaiyin FC around the city surprised you?

Most definitely. Chennai is not really a footballing city compared to a Kolkata or a Goa. So, to be very honest, we expected around 10-15,000 people at the stadium last season. But, in our opening game against Kerala, when there were nearly 25,000 people, I was absolutely blown away. The attendances have only kept increasing, and I’m thrilled that Chennaiyin FC has made such a big impact on the city.

In that regard, do you think having someone like MS Dhoni has helped?

Definitely. That was one of the biggest reasons that we wanted to get him on board. He has become a favourite son of this city and he himself really relates to the city a lot. But, I think even without MS’s Chennai connection, just the stature of him as a cricketer would have been enough.

The Chennai connection was an added bonus. Fortunately for India, he’s away on national duty now, but he will be coming for the game on the 5th of November and we are really looking forward to welcoming him to the Marina Arena.

There has been a lot of skepticism about the Bollywood connection to sport with so many franchises being owned by actors and actresses. What are your thoughts?

I cannot speak for everyone, but as far as John (Abraham), Ranbir (Kapoor) and I are concerned, we are definitely very serious about it. All three of us studied in the same school. John captained the football team there. Even now, when we get the time, Ranbir and I do play football on weekends.

So, this is not just about fun for us. This is serious business and all of us are in it to win and make successful franchises.

Thank you so much for talking with us, Abhishek. It’s been fun and an absolute pleasure. Good Luck

Thank you so much!