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About 260-million people are directly involved in the business of football,
the thousands of delegates at Soccerex are told. More than 200 exhibitors from
90 countries are taking part in the massive business-to-business convention.
A youth team from Katlehong, Barcelona FC, wins the Diski 5 GP five-a-side competition at the Kagiso Soccerex Football Festival
F
OOTBALL has become so big that the game is no longer merely entertainment,
but a product on offer to more than one billion people around the world.
These were the words of the FIFA president, Sepp Blatter, at the official
opening of the business-to-business soccer convention, Soccerex, at the Sandton
Convention Centre on Monday, 26 November.
Soccerex, which opened on Sunday, 25 November with a Kagiso Soccerex Football
Festival at the Nelson Mandela Square in Sandton, is being attended by 5 000
delegates and over 200 exhibitors from 90 countries.
Blatter said that during the past 50 years, the game of football had
developed to such an extent that there were now about 260-million people
directly involved in it.
"The game of football has become a product – a very good product in marketing
terms. Along the way big partners like the television and the market [spectators
and businesses involved in football] have come on board, making football one of
the most lucrative businesses in the world."
Blatter said that a new market had opened up for football. A leading global
consulting and information technology services provider, India's Satyam,
recently became a FIFA World Cup sponsor.
"To add on to this move, India [has] just started professional football. This
means football has just acquired a new market worth one billion people," he
explained.
World Cup
Turning to the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, Blatter said
he had no doubt that South Africa would succeed in organising a memorable
tournament - to much applause from the hundreds of delegates who attended the
official opening.
"The World Cup draw held in Durban was a resounding success, a sign that the
country is up to the task to stage one of the biggest sporting events in the
world."
The preliminary draw was held in Durban on Sunday, 25 November.
Taking the podium, Gauteng Premier Mbhazima Shilowa said that as a province,
Gauteng was proud to host the soccer convention for the next three years. The
convention was "a window of opportunity" to the outside world.
"Soccerex will showcase the vibrancy, the culture and the business
opportunities that the province can offer to the world. And, in addition to
this, Soccerex will leave a legacy project associated with the hosting of the
event. A sports complex will be built in Mapetla, Soweto, which will serve as a
hub for educational, life skills and talent identification programmes."
Adding to Shilowa's comments, the chairperson of Soccerex, Tony Martin, said
attendance at this year's convention had doubled over last year's event in
Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates.
"The event has been generating infinite scope for marketing and the
opportunities generated by the business of football are vast. This business has
become a beautiful business."
Social impact
On top of the economic opportunities provided
by football, it had far-reaching social consequences, according to Martin.
"Individuals and families have been united through football. The game has
generated prestige and goodwill for entire nations. A football club, for
example, has the power to unite an entire community and national teams have
cemented feelings of togetherness in footballing countries." Martin said that
the five-a-side Kagiso Soccerex Football Festival was a resounding success,
attracting hundreds of spectators on the day. Africa All Stars walloped Soccerex
Select 4-0 in the finals.
Carlos Alberto Perreira, the coach of the South African football team, said
that Soccerex provided an opportunity for people involved in football to meet
and mingle. It was also an excellent opportunity for the football-loving nation
of South Africa to prepare for 2010.
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Soccerex
FOR more information about Soccerex, click here.
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"Soccerex provides an opportunity for us to prepare for the World Cup. At the
moment the South African football team is preparing for the big picture – the
2010 FIFA World Cup™. I know the team has been criticised for losing a string of
matches but this should be taken as part of preparations for the big picture."
Perreira advised South Africans to be patient with the national team. "It has
taken me time to acclimatise and people have lamented South Africa dropping
points in the world standings, but this is not important. Having a plan for 2010
is more important."
Soccerex runs until Wednesday, 28 November. Today discussions will be held on
brand focus and presentations will be made on the World Cup. On the last day,
the Soccerex Closing Panel will discuss the topic No fear of failure.
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