Source: Indiansuperleague.com
Date: Oct 27, 2014
FC Pune City not only enjoyed fanatical support from the crowd as they trooped out in search of their first win at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex Stadium on Sunday night, but they also had a supporter rooting for them in the stands who is more than an ordinary fan.
Actor Hrithik Roshan, who was announced as a Pune City co-owner just days before the start of the Hero Indian Super League, seemed to have been his team’s lucky mascot as they romped to a 2-0 win over FC Goa in their first home game. It was also the first game where Hrithik was in attendance, having missed the fixtures in New Delhi and Mumbai, and he was ecstatic about being present when his team turned the corner.
“It feels fantastic!” an overjoyed Hrithik exulted to indiansuperleague.com after the match. “I can’t really articulate what I’m feeling right now! It feels absolutely incredible.” A first-half goal from Greek star Kostas Katsouranis and a late second from marquee player David Trezeguet helped Pune pick full points for the first time in three matches, their defence too fulfilling its part of the bargain by helping to keep the slate clean.
Holding forth on his new avatar as football club owner, Hritikh emphasised the joy of being part of a team as the biggest plus for him personally. “I am the owner of the team. It’s a very different experience for me,” he explained. “Whenever I have won something in my life, it’s been a solo experience. This is a team that has won, and I’m part of that.”
The collective emotion that comes with belonging to a team is something that Hrithik is enjoying immensely: “It’s even more exhilarating. It’s something that I will cherish.” Now that he has experienced the thrill of victory, Hrithik wants to return and relive the experience. “Well, now that I’m here, I’m going to be here for every game,” he quipped.
The Bollywood star was emphatic when asked about his vision for Pune City in their inaugural season: “The target is always victory!”