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Karl
Senior Member
USA
914 Posts |
 Posted - Aug 02 2002 : 5:53:04 PM
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Restructuring for football success in TnT
01-Aug-2002
by Richard Braithwaite, BA, MBA
Director of Development, CONCACAF
The phrase "football is a business" has become somewhat of a cliché in recent times and it's mantra-like repetition is often used to justify the increasing commercialization of the modern game. Football is indeed a business and more than that, it is a multi-billion dollar global industry which generates annual revenues in excess of US$200 billion.
There are those who now claim that a financial crisis is looming and that the spending spree initiated by the big clubs in recent years and the failure of Pay TV in some countries will lead inevitably to a money crunch that will affect the game worldwide. On the other hand the opening of new markets, certainly on the Asian continent and to a lesser extent in North America may well provide additional sources of revenues.
In the expanding business of football the challenge for the smaller football nations is to find ways to participate meaningfully in this massive global industry and achieve some measure of self-sustaining development. This is no easy task by any means but it is not unlike the challenges that confront any Caribbean enterprise that seeks to compete in the international marketplace.
From the local manufacturers of soft drinks to the producers of petroleum products, the challenges are similar. One of the methods that some have chosen to enhance their international competitiveness is to revise their organizational structures and adopt structures that facilitate growth and viability. In many cases the traditional hierarchical structure with its rigid chain of command and centralized decision-making has been replaced by a flatter, more decentralized organization. The recruitment of highly competent professionals who are empowered to perform has also been a hallmark of the more successful enterprises both here and abroad.
The complexity of modern football is making it increasingly difficult to manage the game successfully within the confines of the traditional structures. Legal matters, marketing issues, financial affairs and numerous human resource problems, including the key issue of technical development are all buffeting Football Associations throughout the world. In the Caribbean the impact is more significant since our long history of amateur sport administered by volunteers has left us ill-equipped for the current challenges. Our focus has been mainly on finding raw talent and hoping it will rise to the top. However it is not only the ability to unearth raw talent, but also the capacity to take the raw talent successfully through the various stages of development that will bring international success in the long term. The all-important process of development requires the establishment of structures that facilitate growth and provide access to a core of knowledgeable and experienced professionals including coaches, sports medicine specialists and administrators. This formation of this professional cadre is critical to football success on a consistent basis.
Clearly it is not a one-man show and there will be tensions and stresses always, whenever the traditional hierarchical structures clash with the imperatives of modern football. There have been numerous examples of this and the constant rotation of national coaches is just one symptom of this ongoing conflict.
Regrettably, the matter is often seen as a clash of personalities and hence the simplistic debate about foreign versus local coaches. While the world hails the outstanding success of Korea under the guidance of a Dutchman, Gus Hiddink, the reality of Turkey's success under their native son Senol Gunes is a gentle reminder that it is competence and not nationality that determines effectiveness. Success in the business of football requires a closer look behind the personalities and a deeper analysis of the structures within which they operate.
This excessive focus on personality is not unique to football and can be seen in many sports in the Caribbean. Sociologists may have a more perceptive view on the matter and will link it to our colonial history and a psychological need for "messiah". In cricket the constant changes in players, captains, coaches and now selectors seems to have brought little respite in the downward spiral. However the recent establishment of cricket academics in Grenada and Trinidad demonstrate a growing appreciation for proper development structures.
Football is indeed a business and just like any other business it requires organizational structures that facilitate success. Modern enterprises seek structures that promote teamwork and collaboration , harnessing the collective brainpower and talent of knowledgeable personnel. They encourage continuous learning so that new and more creative methods are sought in solving problems and they demand a level of professionalism that eradicates the pettiness of personality conflicts. Success in the world of football today demands nothing less.
Karl |
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FOOTBALL IS A BUSINESS! Concacaf's TD expounds!
