INVESTMENTS, POLITICS, ASIANS & SOCCER
- The FastTracker
- Oct 2, 2011
- 4 min read
AND WHY DO THESE IDIOTS KEEP BUYING FOOTBALL CLUBS?
Often we underrate and even totally ignore Indonesia as one of the soccer-mad capitals of the world.
Just something off-side: Did you know that Indonesia has the most number of Twitter users in the world and is the fourth largest contributor to Facebook?????
But back to soccer …
We were with three investors last week looking at new ways to get into China’s entertainment industry – we’re always glad to help those with money with ways to play with it – and who are heavily involved in the Indonesian soccer industry.
Little did we know that Arsenal has already opened a soccer clinic for kids out there.
These investors also explained how Indonesian politics and politicians are closely inter-twined and how the local media is now speaking out about this.
They are also pushing the government and politicians to support and nurture the country’s young superstars-in-the-making.
The link below provides some fascinating insights into the world of Indonesian soccer- and politics.
We had zero idea that there exists an Arsenal Indonesia and who are rabid supporters of the Gunners.
There are fan clubs, there are online “support groups”, and there are special magazines devoted to the club.
Joining Arsenal and Real Madrid in opening a soccer clinic/school/academy in Indonesia has been Liverpool.
Backing the club has been the British Chamber of Commerce.
Today, some of Indonesia’s cash-rich investors are doing somersaults to try and entice Beckham to do the same.
They also mentioned the “rock star” appeal of many in the country’s national team players like Bambang Pamungkas as they now follow their team’s efforts in the upcoming World Cup.
Interestingly, apart from China, these investors are looking at expanding their soccer business interests into the Philippines.
Their thinking is that though the Philippines remain basketball-crazy, most Filipinos are “too short” to play the game.
However, playing soccer is something else and, already, money is being pumped in to building up the country’ soccer industry – foreign money including that from Indonesia.
Especially after the country’s stunning upset in 2010 and when they beat Vietnam in the Final of the ASEAN Football Federation Suzuki Cup, there has been a concerted bid to move soccer in the Philippines up a notch and boost it financially.
At the end of it, sure, there must be a love for the “Beautiful Game” but there is also a love of money, other perks and egos involved and which is why so many Asian business people are looking at soccer as they do the stock market- or as an expensive hobby or as power and a quick way to get famous and laid.
We find it all goofy, sad and desperate.
When Hong Kong businessman Balu Chainrai ended up owning Portsmouth FC, he enjoyed the sudden adulation – for a few months.
But, financially, it was a bitch and he was glad to see the back of it and get rid of it to some Russian consortium.
Vichai Raksriaksorn, chairman and chief executive of Thailand’s King Power Group, owns Leicester City and will soon open up soccer clinics for kids in Thailand.
More and more Asians are buying into, especially, English football clubs.
Why? Well, we can guess, but we won’t say.
The controversial Hong Kong businessman Carson Yeung owning Birmingham City?
The same Carson Yeung arrested by police on money laundering charges?
Indian poultry firm Venky’s became the first ever Indian owners of an English Premier League club after the billionaire Rao family, below, completed a $36 million takeover of Blackburn Rovers.
Paul Egerton-Vernon, Chairman of the Jack Walker Settlement Trustees, told the club’s website: “We are very pleased to be passing on the Rovers to the Rao family. We have been impressed with their enthusiasm for the club and their plans and ideas for future investment to develop it further as well as their wish and commitment to preserve the legacy of Jack Walker. Over the last 10 years, the global appeal of the Premier League has grown significantly and it is only natural that, as we have seen at other clubs, international ownership and investment should increase.”
Anuradha J Desai, the Chairperson of Venky’s, said: “We are delighted, proud and humbled to be associated with Blackburn Rovers, a team with whom we share many values and ambitions.” Huh? What?
“Going forward we plan to focus on leveraging the global influence in establishing Blackburn Rovers as a truly global brand. We will absolutely respect the Jack Walker legacy and will be actively supporting the organization to ensure that Blackburn Rovers remains one of the best run clubs within the Premier League. Blackburn Rovers is an historic institution that has won the Premier League and we want the fans to embrace us so that we are able to do our best in the interests of the club.”
And then there’s China’s Kenny Huang, pictured below, the front man who is bidding to purchase Liverpool. His motto seems to be, To make a small fortune out of football, but a big one. Huang’s focus seems to be TV Rights, but will these bring about a real return on interest or just become a confusing blog and, like the music industry, various Rights issues?
Recently, Malaysian Tony Fernandes, below, the one-time head of Warner Music in Singapore and who has had great success with his budget airline – Air Asia – and who seems hell-bent on becoming the Richard Branson of Asia, bought Queen’s Park Rangers.
But why QPR?
QPR is an investment?
Beckham for QPR?
Then again, Tony Fernandes has succeeded where many have stumbled.
We’ll leave you with one of our favorite articles from the Guardian with the headline, “Why Do These Idiots Keep Buying Football Clubs.”
It might be a bit old, but the “sentiments” remain the same.
It is a brilliant read.
© Fast Prat
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