A few years in the past, Jose Antonio Cachaza used to go to Atletico Madrid’s matches in Spain along with his little son. And that’s how the attractive sport grew to become a vital a part of their lives.
“I bear in mind the day Fernando Torres retired. In his speech to followers, he stated he grew to become an Atletico fan as a result of he used to go together with this grandfather to the stadium,” stated Cachaza, the Managing Director of LaLiga India, in a chat with The Hindu right here on Wednesday.
“And that’s part of our relationship with our native membership and mainly you understand that from September to June, each different Sunday or Saturday now, you go to the stadium. At all times. That has been my case too, I’ve to go to the Atletico stadium with my son, now my son goes there with whoever he needs.
“That father and son relationship is kind of fundamental within the relationship of followers and golf equipment.”
The Indian Tremendous League has accomplished eight editions and Cachaza feels it’ll take longer to construct such a loyalty.
“In eight years it’s very troublesome to develop that loyalty in India. Why do you’ve got that loyalty in Kolkata, that’s as a result of these guys have been going to see Mohun Bagan or East Bengal matches since they had been children,” stated Cachaza who was in Kochi to rejoice the Spanish premier league La Liga’s ‘5 years in India’ because the opening of its India workplace. By the way, Kerala is the most important contributing market to LaLiga viewership (23%) on Viacom18 in India.
“In Kerala, Kerala Blasters is a brand new group however the relationship with soccer comes from far so it’s a distinct scenario. So, you should develop these loyalties.
“The ISL is in an early stage and I feel it’s moving into the proper path. However this stuff take time. We (LaLiga) are celebrating our 95 th season,” he stated.
Clever advertising and marketing
“In case you look again on the ISL’s starting, the primary one or two years, they did a transfer that, from a sports activities perspective, didn’t make a lot sense. Like bringing these former stars however the advertising and marketing was extremely clever as a result of it put Indian soccer on the world map. I imply, individuals had been pondering ‘Wow Roberto Carlos is taking part in in India’, they weren’t pondering he can’t play.
“Now, the ISL is evolving into what appears to be an actual league. Could also be, it doesn’t assist that a lot of the matches are performed on weekdays when it isn’t simple for followers to go to stadium. Could also be, you need to look how one can get nearer to the followers which, will not be in mandatory in Kerala however in different States.”
Nearer to motion
He additionally feels soccer motion must get nearer to followers.
“Many golf equipment are taking part in in cricket stadiums, they aren’t one of the best for watching good soccer. You’re too distant from the contact line. For instance, right here in Kochi, the Nehru Stadium will not be the worst however I bear in mind in Delhi, it was nerve-racking to look at soccer, you nearly want binoculars to see the sport,” stated the Spaniard.
“So, enchancment in stadia might be one thing that India should care for quickly. I feel a superb instance is the evolution of MLS within the US. They began taking part in in giant NFL stadia and as quickly because the league saved evolving and the funds obtained proper, they began constructing smaller stadiums of 15,000, 20,000 and 25,000 and so they had been football-only stadiums.
“I don’t suppose any ISL membership is taking part in in a football-only stadium. A football-only stadium will convey followers nearer to the sport and the connection with gamers might be even nearer. I feel that might be a superb step ahead.”
