Dino Morea's free kick

Offers to be the face for Indian football... phukat mein

As the world's biggest soccer extravaganza gets underway this Friday (June 11) in South Africa, Dino Morea is determined to promote the sport in India. He is keen to see apna India in the FIFA World Cup league. As a first step towards that goal, the actor has offered to be the face of Indian football. For free.

Says Dino, "I want to give soccer that push to make it more popular. I am not looking at any compensation or endorsement for it. I want to offer my services to any organisation that has the potential to push football in our country. We can have a World Cup squad if the impetus is right. There are so many regions in the country where football has a huge following."

Dino, who's also a restaurateur, feels this can be made to be the most popular sport in India overtaking the national obsessionu00a0-- cricket. The actor had even roped in cricketers like MS Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh to be the face of his merchandise business. But when it comes to promoting a game, he prefers football.

A familiar sport
"It is a sport I am familiar with as I play it. I have been the face of Goa football," says Dino. "There are several teams there like the Churchill Bros Sports Club, Salgaocar SC and Dempo SC. I attend their events and support their causes."

He adds, "It's sad that India does not even qualify for the FIFA World Cup. Decades ago, in 1950, when India was invited by FIFA to participate in Brazil they could not take part as they had no shoes! They played barefoot."

The star also points out the Indian football needs more money. Other associations like the Board of Control for Cricket in India that have their coffers full, should share the wealth. It is important that one cash-rich sport body help a needy one."

The actor is planning to fly to South Africa for the finals of the FIFA World Cup 2010 finale. "I am rooting for Italy," he points out.

How official is it?
>> Salman Khan is the official brand ambassador for AIFF, the governing body for Indian football.
>> John Abraham, also a soccer fanatic, is associated with the game through a sports channel.
>> Shah Rukh Khan who played a hockey coach in Chak De! India, has always expressed solidarity with the players and expressed his anguish at the current state of hockey.
>> Sunil Shetty is the official brand ambassador for hockey in India.