Part 2 - My visit to the Italian's important football institutions

The city of Torino (Turin)

The search continues...
After my visit to Milan, i decided that i need to have a closer look at another giant in Italian football. A true giants even though many football fans in Malaysia generaly not interested in Serie A or Italia Calcio as a whole. I need to see the club in details so that we can learn something, and move forward profesionaly like them. The strong anxious feeling inside persuaded me to look for it, and it drive me to the city of Torino to complete my adventure...

The 2 hour journey from Milan to Torino filled with excitement, the view of few Italian town along the way. I was also impressed with the architectural aspect with some of the older house, left me dream to build a house with such classy structure. Back to football, my next destination was about a club rich with history, tradition, long list of honours and a trophy laden cabinets. Yes, i am talking about Juventus FC.

The stadium itself located in a very strategic location. Easy to reach by car and bus, as the new Juventus Stadium located just near by the main Highway. As i was about getting into the stadium area, the sight of the new stadio Juventus impressed me. The combination of sporting, simplicity, convinience and Italian flavour were the main character of the arena. Its symbolised how important it is, Juventus FC for the fans, people of Turin and Italian football in general.

The arena was build around the community, as they want this new stadium to be a '24 hours and 7 days a week' alive and open. The stadium was build together with other facilities such as shopping complex, a hyper market, Museum and Juventus FC store. So, This area will be always alive by visitors either for shopping, or football related matters.

The main entrance to the stadium. The magnificent character of the club, strong message to the rest of the world. A club that was found by a group of young students, a commoner, normal people with great ambitions. Now, stand in front of me a prove of a succesfull football club, with a legacy of winning culture mixed with the already well known unique Italian sporting mentality. This is the only stadium in Italy own by the football club itself. Another point to learn by us in Malaysia.

30 times scudetto winners. A testimony that will remind everybody who want to know about this club. Without a doubt, this club is the biggest in Italy, and will get bigger. Massive numbers of visitors come down to this ground every year. Good business for the club.

Standing in front of the players tunnel. Players will normaly come out from here during match days. Upstairs, there were plenty of glass rooms, facing the pitch build for the corporate customers. The corporate customers leased the rooms for a season, and they will enjoy watching the game from the room plus some other hospitality services such as foods, drinks and comfort seat. This will generate more income for the club.

The new Stadio Juventus replacing Stadio Delle Alpi with smaller capacity of 41000 seat. The club intended to have a quality supports instead of quantity. The stand build so close to the pitch, around 10 meters and this excites the fans because they can see the actions closer. The club also installed so many cameras around the stadium to curb hooliganism, as the Italian football authority put security as their top agenda to bring football closer to the comunity. The seat is a numbered seat compelete with the fans name, and camera installed in every corner.

The museum. Must visit the Juventus museum. Marcello Lippi, one of the best quotes by one of the best manager in the club history.

Success doesn't build in one day, or one month, or one year. This trophy cabinet was build as a testimony for this club success for decades. Work hard and always believe.

My important point on this visit:

1. Location of the stadium easy for fans to reach.
2. Stadium build around the community. Convinience store to maintain the area alive.
3. Stadium ownership by the club, not city council.
4. Corporate box for corporate customer. To build long and sustainable relationship, to attract investor and sponsor. Massive income through leasing the corporate box
5. Great financial income through Museum and club store.

I hope State FA's and clubs in Malaysia would learn from this, as i wish there will be a team as big as Juventus will rise from Malaysia.

Struggled State Fa's may look for privatisation

Kuala Lumpur FA, Penang FA, Melaka FA and Perlis FA can be considered as traditional household name in local football for decades. But with current situation, relegated and struggled to survive financialy, they may have to look for better option.

I suggest these troubled FA's to outsource the first team affair to outside investor or partner. The FA will only focusing on Youth development, State's league and referee development. 

How to do it? outsource means, the state FA can create a company with 51% share and another 49% share to be offered for outside investor or business partner. The intention of creating the private limited company is, to get involve in commercial business and to generate profit. The profit generate through the business activities will be distributed to the football team, which is legaly own by the private limited company.

My suggestion above is only on basic level. There will be more details for privatisation of a football club. But the whole idea is to give profesional football club a chance to shine, reduce the financial burden for the state FA's and improve football management at club level. KL City FC perhaps? or Melaka United FC?

My visit to the Italian's important football institutions - Part 1

The city of Milan

My arrival in the city of Milan was greeted by a fresh football air. Reasonably cold and windy, the Malpensa airport show a glimpse of what i described as a true footballing city. A replica or statue of former Inter star Karl-Heinz Rummenigge stand tall in the arrival hall. We can't see that similar level of appreciation from our society in KLIA towards any Malaysian legends.

On my way from Malpensa to the city, i was a bit tired. But knowing that i was about to enter the 'capital of fashion' has kept me awake for the entire journey. Soon after unloading my goods in the room, i left for the city centre, or more famously known as Duomo.

I can't leave Milan without visiting their supreme megastore. Top class. The two storey megastore fits the taste and requirement of many Milan fans. It is located about 200 meters from Duomo square. Jerseys, Mafla and everything to do with AC Milan can be obtained here. I had suggested once to the all Malaysian football clubs that we need to have this kind of facilities. The megastore could bring in more income to the clubs. Malaysian State's FAs and the clubs need to be sustainable in the long run, and they need to diversify their income to achieve that. FA's or clubs megastore could be an important option.

Milan Derby 7th October 2012. It was AC Milan as the home team (eventhough they shared the stadium). I was about to enter the stadium via gate 12. Although the city was packed with the passionate fans, but security wise, it was always under control. Before i could enter through the gate behind me, i had to go through a manual officer checking. The stadium officer checked my ticket before i procede to the next security level. The second level impressed me the most. The bar code validation system. The system installed to ensure that i was using the valid match ticket. Another point to be highlighted in Malaysia football. Valid and genuine match ticket to ensure the club's gate receipt in total control.

Finaly got my seat at the third tier. yup the highest tier. The match was about to start. The Curva Sud ultras displayed their dominance by continous chants and songs. Malaysia Fans, are you watching this? i am sure our Ultras Malaya could produce a banner as big as this one!

The game went on, Inter went ahead in just 4th minute after Walter Samuel headed in a free kick on the far post. Both sides are not my favourite team, so i won't elaborate more on the technical side of the game. I just being there for my personal visit, observation or may i say, my little research on Italia calcio.

Always amazed, fascinated, thrilled by the CURVA SUD ultras. There is no football without the fans.

Another great chants by the Curva Sud ultras. Electric

The game ended with 'the visiting team' won by 0-1. Not so much goal mouth action, but a very high energy Milan derby game. Time to go back to my room

This is actually Duomo square. Located at the heart of the city. This is where normaly the fans celebrate their triumphant victory domesticaly or continentaly.

My important points from this Milan visit.

1. The local authority to promote local football team, and their stars
2  The important of having good public transport for the fans to the stadium. Trains, buses, tramps
3. The important of clubs to be enggaged with the fans
4. The important of establishing club's megastore to generate income
5. The important of technology to supervise and monitor stadium security. Plus to validate genuine match  ticket.
6. The important of having seated stadium. Where each seat will be numbered according to section, tier and priority. This is to make fans feel more convinience.

This is all for my part 1, will see you later in part 2. Insha Allah.

Expected last four in the Malaysia cup

Sorry, nothing suprised me with the result tonight. On form ATM easily brushed aside defending champions Negeri Sembilan, Selangor walked over Clubside Johor FC, Pahang can't play in Jalan Besar, so The Lions as expected won comfortably and Kelantan Cruised past Felda United in what i described as 'on pedestrian mode'.

So Selangor will play Kelantan, while ATM to meet the Lions. Selangor - Kelantan clash will be the clash of the season, as both side hunting for the biggest prize in Malaysian football. Kelantan to complete the season with the treble, while Selangor looking for that 33 times winner.

No local players impressed me at this quaterfinal stage. And that's not a good symptom for our football.

Most match winningh performance came from the foreign stars, as proved by Muhd Ghaddar. His composure when received the ball, his technic during one to one situation, his athletic ability to go past defenders with ease, and his reliable foot to kill the game. Not to forget, ability of using either foot in shooting is important for any striker.

I dont want to be a fortune teller, so i dont want to predict who will play in the final. I just hope the semifinalist will put a better performance in their future games.

Great task ahead for Malaysia to defend the AFF cup

Even though we are so excited with the coming AFF cup, which will be played in my adopted city of Shah Alam, but deep down my biggest concern is the fact that Harimau Malaya is not at the best possible condition.

Why? Our main striker Safee sali is struggling with match fitness, not playing in any competitive match since july due to ISL early finished. Being limited to trained with harimau muda, Safee lost of match sharpness and his goal predatory instinct is beginning to take effect.

Fellow strike partner Norshahrul Idlan Talaha not having the best football of his career this year, at least on his standard. I can't even remember for any game this season, where mat yo put his match winning performance. The rotation policy by Bojan Hodak could be the factor for this, as Kelantan involved with the AFC cup. I always wish he could performing well at the continental level instead of domestic football. But so far the flash of his trickery is missing big time.

How are we going to get a goal if these two goal machine are not at their best form?
Can we rely on our new generations of striker to do the job? The likes of Shakir Ali, Rozaimi Abd Rahman, Muhd Afiq Azmi and Hazwan Bakri?

I am not the fans of Datuk K Rajagobal's tactic. Flat 4-4-2 since 2009, his style of play is very predictable and straight forward. When Safiq Rahim get the ball, we knew what will happen next. He will pump it long for the flanks to give the chase, and expecting the opponent's defender to slip up. The defeat by Vietnam in September was a blessing in disguise. I hope he can work out his tactical discipline, and to prevent a similar dull performance to ever happen again.

The misfiring forward line and boring game plan are my greatest concern. We need to do more to ensure we can keep the cup. Remember, this is by far, our own 'world cup'. The scale of south east asia's public endorsement towards the tournament is truly phenomenal. Not just us in Malaysia, the region is taking this cup more seriously.

However, me as a football fans need to update my tactical knowledge. I need to read more on the latest modern football game plan. To feel it, to breath the pure football air, i am looking forward to the classic Milan Derby next week...for learning and exposure wise. Why Serie A? I'll let you know next time Insha Allah