Tiger
Shroff might soon have another feather in his cap, this time on the football pitch. The actor has been officially announced as a part of Mumbay FC's squad for the prestigious Durand Cup, making him a contender for what could well be his first professional football appearance. The news has been doing the rounds among fans and football followers alike, and Tiger's long-cherished love for the sport seems all set to take a giant leap forward. The actor, who is known for his martial arts skills and action movies like the Baaghi franchise, War and Heropanti, has been working quietly on his football game for years.
Tiger training with the team
Tiger Shroff has already completed the necessary registration process and has been training regularly alongside the club's players, Mumbay FC co-owner Zoheb Amrani told Sportstar. Management is now trying to finalise arrangements for his possible involvement during the tournament.But there are still logistical challenges. Given Tiger's huge popularity, the club is taking extra care on crowd management and security, especially as many matches of the team will be played in Shillong."He's registered with the squad, and we are trying our best to arrange everything. A person like Tiger, we'll need a lot of security in tier-2, tier-3 cities. People can gather around, and it could be chaotic,” Amrani said.
Tiger's football commitment
Tiger's football journey apparently gained momentum in 2023, during an influencers' football league. That's when Amrani realised the actor had actual technical skills beyond celebrity zeal. Mumbay FC was born, and Amrani was so impressed with his dribbling, tackling and game sense that he asked him to train with the club.Tiger's dream to be in the big leagues sounded like a passing comment at first, but the actor was determined. He went through the formal registration process through the Centralised Registration System (CRS), where he knew that to participate, he had to meet the official regulations and not make a promotional appearance.
Luck in the Durand Cup
Mumbay FC will be making their maiden appearance in the Durand Cup, which is one of the oldest football tournaments in the world. The team will play all their Group E matches at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong. The club begins its campaign against Langsning SC and will be followed by games against Shillong Lajong FC and Nongkseh Sports & Cultural Club.There is no official word on Tiger playing in every fixture, but reports suggest he is likely to feature in the club’s last group-stage match if all the arrangements fall into place.
More than celebrity attention
For Mumbay FC, Tiger's association is much more than a headline grabber. The club officials believe that his presence could shed light on the emerging football talent in the state of Maharashtra and give young players more exposure to scouts from bigger clubs.
Bollywood's football connection
Tiger's foray into the field will add to a long list of Bollywood celebrities investing in Indian football. In recent years, actors have become increasingly involved in supporting clubs and leagues, helping the sport reach wider audiences. But Tiger's involvement would be different from the celebrity ownership roles, as he would be playing as a registered player, not just representing the club off the pitch.
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