ISL: Mumbai City FC wants to be the heartbeat of Mumbai

Ask any Mumbaikar and they will tell you that Mumbai only has two seasons – the monsoon and December. The rains are as much a constant in Mumbai as the crowds. You never ask will it rain? You only ask – will it be a drizzle, moderate rain or a thunderstorm. And if there is one thing that goes well with rains, besides the pakodas, it is football. There is something magical about playing football in the rain. It is surprisingly then that football has not become the number one passion of Mumbaikars. Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor and Chartered Accountant Bimal Parekh want to change that. [caption id=“attachment_1751555” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  File picture of Mumbai City FC’s marquee player Freddie Ljungberg. AFP[/caption] Earlier this year the duo won the bid for the Mumbai franchise, or as Ranbir and Bimal would like to say, won the bid on behalf of the 20 million Mumbaikars. They are going all out to make sure that the Mumbaikars feels like the team belongs to them and is being run on their behalf. Nothing proves this better than the team logo which in Ranbir’s words is “a resilient fortress standing proudly, surrounding the logo that signifies the unrelenting, determined spirit of the city. The seven stars, bold and regal, symbolize the islands that form Mumbai. Trains that are the very lifeline of the city, pulsing, beating a staccato rhythm as they ply millions of Mumbaikars across its vast expanse, every single day tirelessly, connect these islands. “Each passenger, each citizen of the city bound together by their love for the place they call home. 20 million citizens, 20 million hearts that pulse to a single beat - the heartbeat of Mumbai.” Mumbai City FC is in a quest to connect these 20 million heartbeats and synchronize them to the fortunes of the team. And just like the human heart, it has red and blue veins. MCFC decided to make blue and red their official team colors. Though some could argue that the inspiration for the blue color came from their very successful EPL namesake Manchester City Football Club. Or maybe Ranbir’s very successful Pepsi campaign “ab badlega game” in which Ranbir wears the same red and blue. Irrespective of where the inspiration came from the end product is spectacular. I am no fashionista but according to me, MCFC have the best jersey in the league. I find the jersey so good looking that a part of me does not want it to be plastered with sponsor logos. Of course I know that is not possible. Sponsors are to a sports team what oxygen is to humans. A team just can’t survive without it. Though they have not yet announced any sponsors, rumor has it that two brands have been signed on and the team sponsors will consist of a few brands that are already part of Kapoor’s existing endorsement deals. Considering they have Arunava Chaudhuri as the COO managing the club, getting sponsors on board should not be a problem. If there is one individual who understands the business of football well in India, it has to be Mr Chaudhuri. Every time I have met him I have been floored by the insights and perspective he has to offer. With him at the helm of affairs MCFC is in good hands. The team MCFC represents a city which is vibrant and pulsating. I hope they stay true to their brand and play vibrant and pulsating football which lights up the league.