Kolkata

Bollywood Actor John Abraham is being celebrated for his untiring effort is raising and nurturing the NorthEast United FC (NEUFC) that staged a brilliant victory over the defending champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant (MBSG) in the 133rd Durand Cup in a thrilling final played Sunday.

Abraham, the hero of many blockbuster films like Dhoom, Taxi no 11, Madras café, Dhana Dhann Goal (On Football) is known for espousing many causes and for keeping a low profile among the film personalities.His passion for motobikes, fitness, vegetarinism and animals is well known. He recently spoke about women and animals being most unsafe in India.

Today he is all over social media for his faith in his cause for the growth of football in India minus the Corporate money and bureaucratic interference.

This is the Highlanders' maiden Durand Cup title and their first-ever silverware in Indian football.]

HISTORY! 🏆

John Abraham. The Happiest Club Owner right now. ❤️#StrongerAsOne #8States1United #IndianOilDurandCup #DurandCup #DurandCupFinal #NortheastUnitedFC #IndianFootball pic.twitter.com/bMm77NNjfK

— Indian Football Talks 🇮🇳⚽️ (@IndianFootTalks) August 31, 2024

The defending champions had taken a 2-0 lead in the first half through Jason Cummings and Sahal Abdul Samad.

Abraham had said in media interviews that he believed bureaucracy had destroyed Indian Football and he wanted to do it without any support.

Last year he said, “We don't want to put dum money. We want to concentrate more on Grassroots. We want to make sure that we are getting local talents into the system. That's exactly we got as the new management in place. I want to promise the fans a great future".

John Abraham has worked in over 50 films in many languages has always had a special place in his heart for football. As a boy growing up in Mumbai, he dreamed of playing for India.

10 Years of countless heartbreaks, financial troubles, mismanagement, no proper structure and tons of lows, @TheJohnAbraham never gave up on his club like others! I'm proud to be a fan of this club, and to have him as an owner. #NEUFC pic.twitter.com/HeQFd37vo5

— Jithinioh 😈 (@UddiptaKumarKa3) September 1, 2024

Although his dreams of becoming a professional player didn't pan out, his passion for the sport never faded. When the chance came to get involved with the Indian Super League (ISL), Abraham saw an opportunity to turn his football dreams into reality by founding NorthEast United FC in 2013.

The vision behind NorthEast United was unique. Instead of investing in a club in Mumbai, Abraham chose to build a team for the entire northeastern region of India known for its football passion but often overlooked in the mainstream narrative.

This decision led him to establish the club with players from all eight states (Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Tripura, Arunachal, Sikkim, Nagaland, and Mizoram) embodying Abraham's deep connection to the area. The club's journey, however, has been fraught with challenges.

Abraham told a YouTube channel, "Every year, I suffer big losses [by investing in NUFC]. I am an individual owner. The rest of the teams are owned by multi-billion dollar corporate Advertisement”

Fans of Abraham and football posted many visuals on X:

hard luck for Mohun Bagan in Durand Cup final. But what a night for NorthEast United FC, they won their first ever trophy. The NE people deserve it. And happy for John Abraham after whatever he has done for Indian Football 👏 pic.twitter.com/ejqWgT4K8u

— sohom (@AwaaraHoon) August 31, 2024

On Sunday Abraham’s dreams came true at the iconic Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, where Mohun Bagan SG, backed by the powerful RPSG Group led by Sanjiv Goenka, played as the defending champions.

The atmosphere was electric, with the home crowd cheering for Mohun Bagan, but it was NorthEast United's moment to shine. The match saw Mohun Bagan take an early 2-0 lead, but the Highlanders, undeterred, fought back with two quick goals in the second half, forcing the game into a dramatic penalty shootout. When the final whistle blew, and NorthEast United emerged victorious, the celebration was nothing short of euphoric.

Abraham was lifted high by the jubilant players, his face beaming with pride and relief. It was a moment of pure joy, reflecting the immense personal investment he has made in this club. Abraham's commitment goes beyond mere ownership. He is deeply involved in every facet of the club, from on-field strategies to setting u[football academies.

📸 | NorthEast United FC owner and actor John Abraham met with Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma to discuss a potential collaboration to establish a NorthEast United Football Academy in Shillong. #IndianFootball pic.twitter.com/5hfj3THY4r

— 90ndstoppage (@90ndstoppage) August 16, 2023

He said, "I have one objective - legacy. One superstar should come from my academy. I am constructing an academy in Shillong, and it's going to be India's best. For the kids who don't have money, their boarding, lodging, education - I want to take care of everything from the ages of 8 to 18."

NorthEast United's victory in the Durand Cup was not just a win on the pitch but a powerful affirmation of Abraham's dream and dedication. It was a story of hope, resilience, and the incredible impact of believing in something bigger than oneself.