The crowd started chanting “Kaka….Kaka….Kaka” and an overly enthusiastic female fan beside us was leading the chant occasionally shouting out in Portuguese perhaps hoping to spur Scolari to bring Kaka onto the field. And when he finally did, the Brazilian game changed dramatically. I was lost in the moment, I was cheering, joining every Mexican wave and screaming in delight at both Brazilian goal. But I was also very observant and my mind was constantly thinking about soccer in the Solomon Islands.
It is no secret that I have been vocal about the demise of soccer in the country both on this blog and in the local media. I recently learned of the resignation of SIFF President Martin Alufurai and the upcoming SIFF Congress scheduled for June 2013. Rather then relentlessly bashing the executive again, I have formulated a plan inspired by my experience at the Stade de Geneve in March 2013. I believe the way forward is for us to plan for success.
These are my thoughts on the plan for success.
Plan for success with long term goals
1. Identify and clearly define the role and responsibility of every stakeholder in the game
In a nutshell there is the fans, the administrators of the game, the players and most importantly in the modern age; the sponsors. So when we break these broad spectrum of groups into specifics, it becomes very clear how intimately interwoven we all are in the game.
The football fraternity is an ecosystem of inter-dependent parts that ultimately exist because of a symbiotic relationship. The downfall of soccer to its delirious state is simply because of the administration’s inability to acknowledge that relationship. One part cannot and will never exist in isolation because, for example, no executive will ever have dominion over the football kingdom, run the clubs, play and watch the game at the same time.
This past executive has been the beneficiary of all kinds of support yet it is, by its own track record, the most unsuccessful executive to have ever led the sport in our history. We have had more failures then successes at a time when FIFA, OFC, corporate sponsors like Our Telekom, the government and the fan base have given so much to the game. It is simply inexcusable that SIFF’s finances are in shambles and the fans are treated to the despicable results that we have seen on the field.
So part of the plan is going through an exercise where everyone’s roles and responsibilities are identified and the executive must lead in such manner that caters for everyone in this ecosystem.
2. Empower all registered clubs and provide opportunities for equal participation
While the executive provides leadership, clubs are breeding grounds for the players who make the game what it is. But we see clubs struggling financially and lack the kind of structure that gives purpose to long term success. There are too many opportunities for clubs to be financially self-sufficient and their sponsors need not spend money on futile dreams.
Give clubs greater control over their naming rights, merchandise and players. Give clubs a share of the money made from all games played at Lawson Tama even if it is an OFC tournament. The National Basketball Association in the United States has a system to redistribute an equal amount of money to players and club owners from all profits made during the course of one season. Why don’t we study how it is done then apply it even if it means only a couple of hundreds in one season. The market and clubs will respond by innovating on ways in which this pool of money can grow but if we do not start we would have condemned ourselves to years of dependency and stunted growth.
What struck me during the Brazil friendly was the dedication of the Servette FC (whose home ground is the Stade de Geneve) to ensuring that they participate in everything they possibly can to raise funds and also entice new fans. There were dozens handing out brochures while others manned the food court in the stadium. On the flip-side you see DJ Graphics selling club merchandise and I question whether clubs benefit from any proceeds from these sales.
3. Invest in a pool of talented, young professionals and prepare them for leadership
Are we providing opportunities for people based on merit and potential or are we simply consolidating our grip on the game for personal gains? There is no denying that latter has been the hallmark of the past SIFF executive.
Mentor young professionals by helping them attend FIFA or OFC meetings. Allow them to participate in their professional capacity; let them visualize themselves in these positions of responsibility so that when their time comes, they will be ready for the challenge. This ensures that there is continuity; that the future is not lost to the unknown. We can stimulate the passion for our national sport if we start by encouraging young people to take the initiative now.
Take a young referee on the next FIFA assignment because even if he or she does not participate, they can see what needs to be done to get to the level of professionalism required to be a referee at the highest level.
4. Build, nuture and sustain community support
There are groups and individuals from all works of life who can contribute positively to the growth of the game and its ultimate success. Crowdsourcing is a present day catch phrase but its something Solomon Islanders have done for centuries. While in the Solomon Islands, I developed an online application to provide live text updates long before OFC created their own (which SIFF finally acknowledged as the coolest innovation since sliced bread). True fans of the game will do what I had done. I had created an application that did not cost SIFF a single cent yet it brought the game to fans who could not come to Lawson Tama and it helped them stay in touch with the game in real time. There are other talented Solomon Islanders who can contribute by utilizing their skills so it is imperative that the new executive must build a community of fans whose passion is ensuring that the game grow and become successful.
There is a need for SIFF to acknowledge and recognize the efforts of groups and individuals who utilize their talent for the greater good of the game.
Plan for immediate short term gains
1. Revive the school of excellence
FIFA’s grassroot football initiative is great but I believe it is too complex and expensive to implement. It relies on infrastructure, investment in personnel and money for scholarships. The cheaper and most cost effective version is the soccer school of excellence. Our most successful players were products of the school of excellence; what evidence do we need to justify the need to immediately revive this great program for our future soccer stars?
2. Set up procedures to address existing loopholes in SIFF expenditure
The financial crisis in SIFF is real and there is no denying that a crisis of this magnitude is often the end result of inept management. I believe there are no stringent control mechanisms that govern how SIFF finances are managed and even if there are, they have been ignored. So before fixing these loopholes, the first step is to carry out a forensic audit on SIFF and verify how it expedited all monies it has ever been in control over; the endgame is someone must be held accountable. If it is criminal then justice must be served without prejudice.
I firmly believe that the success of soccer in our country begins with a plan then the painful sacrifice everyone must make for long term success. Once we build on this plan, we can move forward. Once we move forward, we will play in sold-out stadiums and have fans chanting our names all over the world. On the other hand we can remain petty and enrich ourselves, fly business class and live in posh hotels at FIFA meetings and pretend we are “the Brazilians of the South Pacific”.