A casual chat with the very iconic Marc Robinson

by Vidhi Shah February 26, 2015

A breezy Wednesday evening at the Don Bosco Grounds, Matunga and there are numerous parents cheering their kids who play in the Rustomjee Go Green Cup hosted by Kenkre. One amongst these is the multi talented, film/ fashion personality, a MDFA (Maharashtra District Football Association) Committee Member, Marc Robinson.

He was there cheering his son Brooklyn who played in the under- 12 category for the Mumbai Jags team and we got the golden opportunity to interact with him!

How do you feel about football? Do you regularly play the sport?

On a personal level, I play football actively and we have a team called the All Stars Football Club and we play for charity. Playing every other Saturday or Sunday, we practice at Sacred Heart or St. Stanislaus in the afternoons. With players like Abhishek, Ranbir Kapoor, Shabbir Ahluwalia, Dino and a host of others we try and support football in every way possible more through playing matches. In fact we have a match tomorrow at Cooperage, but I won’t be able to make it as I’m out of town for a show.

What are your thoughts about this initiative promoting young talent at the grass root level?

About this initiative per se, well it’s great, it is always good to see kids playing outdoor games especially football. I rather have them participating here than on their PS 4’s or sitting at home in front of the television. Ultimately, its football so it’s the best way to stay fit for the youngsters and in the outdoors.

You are a part of the MDFA Committee, so how do MDFA try and support these kinds of events? Also, what are the challenges faced in organizing such tournaments?

I will definitely bring this great initiative to the notice of the Managerial Committee when we get back. I think that although there is so much of football happening in India right now and the major issue is the funding aspect. It is really difficult to get funds to organize the tournament well. Another big challenge is the playing fields, the conditions are pathetic at places, as they are not maintained and hence turn out to be more injury friendly than anything else. So I think the time has come, to set up better facilities, establish more academies like this one (Kenkre), probably like cricket where they have a lot more funding and gathering more government support for football.

So, what are your thoughts on the quality of players especially these small kids who emerge through the ranks of events like Go Green?

They’re good, some of the kids that I watch, I definitely feel that the quality is greatly improving. With all these leagues like La Liga, EPL telecast on the television, it has a following among the youth who try to emulate that level of football in the leagues and championships they play, for it educates them, gives them vast knowledge about the sport and also they’re getting more stylish and fashionable.

After this enriching talk, we bid adieu to Marc, who like an enthusiastic parent then went back to the sidelines to motivate and encourage his child who was the custodian of his team!